88 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



gradually they increase in size until they reach ma- 

 turity the following autumn. During growth the antlers 

 remain comparatively soft, and are covered with skin 

 and fine short hair, known as the "velvet." At maturity 

 a circular burr is formed at the base of the horn. This 

 has the effect of cutting off the blood-vessels, and causing 

 the velvet to dry and shrivel and ultimately peel off. 

 The peeling of the velvet is also hastened by the deer 

 rubbing its antlers upon rocks and trees. With each 

 successive year the antlers are supplemented by one 

 additional prong, so that the number of prongs or tines 

 is a positive indication of the age of the deer. I have 

 counted as many as twenty-two prongs on one horn, or 

 twice that number on the pair. Unlike every other 

 variety of deer, the caribou is antlered in both sexes, the 

 only difference being that in the case of the females the 

 horns are rather smaller, and are more slender and 

 delicate in their formation than those of the males. 



The hoofs of the reindeer are very large in proportion 

 to other parts of the body, and, being cloven, they 

 spread greatly in walking. This characteristic peculiarly 

 fits them for travelling upon the crusted snow, through 

 which other deer would break and flounder in a hopeless 

 manner. 



Concerning the habits of the reindeer, they are both 

 gregarious and migratory. During the summer season 

 their resort is the open plain or the sea-coast, where, to 

 some extent, they escape from their tormentors, the 

 mosquitos and black flies, and find abundance of food 

 in the tender grasses, the ground birch, or the willow 

 buds. In the autumn they turn their steps toward the 

 woodlands or more sheltered districts, where they spend 



