182 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



THE CAEIBOU. 



During the montli of Januar}^ 1843, when there 

 was the coldest weather I ever experienced in the 

 United States, I was seated one eA^ening at the 

 immense fireside in the dining-room of my host, 

 Mr. Thomas Howard, a farmer of the state of New 

 Brunswick, who was one of the* boldest hunters in 

 those parts. Thanks to the introduction of my 

 friend Mr. William Porter, the clever editor of the 

 New York Sinrit of the Times, I had been received 

 by this American Nimrod with the most kindly hos- 

 pitality. The snow was falling without in large 

 flakes, and was beating against the windows of the 

 room in which Llr. Howard and myself were seated 

 near a table whereon the servant had placed a bottle 

 of capital sherry. 



" Fill your glass and mine too, good friend," 

 quoth my host. " I'll drink a glass to France, to 

 your beloved country, and to all true sportsmen 

 who, like you, are animated with the sacred fire. I 

 have not forgotten that I have promised that you 

 shall kill a caribou * before your return to New 



* The caribou (Tarandus rangifcr) is the largest of the North Ame- 

 rican deer. It is called the American reindeer, and closely resembles the 

 Lapland reindeer in shape, but its habits are quite dififerent. The caribou 

 is, incontestibly, as daagerous as the bison ; and although it is alleged 



