62 . GAME ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



who suckles her young but a short time, as it is soon able to seek 

 its food. 



The only food of the Caribou during the winter, is said to be 

 the moss known as LicheJi rangiferina, and his instinct and acute- 

 ness of olfactories in discovering it is surprising. No matter how 

 deep this lichen is buried, the animal is aware of its presence the 

 moment he comes to the spot. Having first ascertained by thrust- 

 ing his muzzle into the snow whether the moss lies below or not, 

 'he begins making a hole with his fore feet, and continues working 

 until at length he uncovers the lichen. When the snow is too 

 deep, as sometimes happens, he betakes himself to the forests and 

 feeds upon another lichen which hangs on pine trees. In summer 

 their food is of a different nature. They then feed upon green 

 herbs or the leaves of trees. Judging from appearances of Lichen 

 rangiferina in the hot months, when it is dry and brittle, one 

 might easily wonder that so large a quadruped as the Caribou 

 should make it his favorite food and fatten upon it ; but toward 

 the month of September it becomes soft, tender and damp, with a 

 taste like wheat bean. In this state its luxuriant and flowery 

 ramifications somewhat resemble the leaves of endive, and are as 

 white as snow. 



Wherever the Caribou abound they are eagerly hunted, for 

 their flesh, when in season, is most delicious. Then, too, in dis- 

 tricts where they have been much persecuted, they become very 

 shy and watchful, so that it requires no little skill to capture them. 

 But besides the attacks of its human enemies, the Caribou is sub- 

 ject to the persecutions of two species of gad fly. The one de- 

 posits its glutinous eggs upon the animal's back. The larvce, on 

 creeping out, immediately bore into the skin, where they cause 

 swellings or boils an inch or more in diameter, with an opening 

 at the top of each, through which the larvse may be seen embed- 

 ded in the purulent fluid. Aware of the danger, the Caribou runs 

 wild and furious as soon as he hears the buzzing of this fly, and 

 seeks refuge in the nearest water. 



The other species of fly lays its eggs in the nostrils of the deer, 

 and the larvae boring into the fauces and beneath the tongue of 

 the poor animal, are a great source of annoyance. 



In Newfoundland the Caribou are still quite abundant, though 



