ISO THE DEER FAMILY 



and the two or three deer usually allowed to each gun. 

 The ruffed grouse and the spruce or Canada grouse 

 are found in the woods and prove an acceptable addition 

 to the camp-table. The Canada grouse is the most 

 abundant, and is often too tame to afford much sport. 

 There are fine trout in the streams and lakes. In the 

 northern parts of the range the beautiful ptarmigan is 

 also fairly abundant. This grouse flies well and affords 

 considerable sport for the double gun, which should 

 always be found in the camp of the caribou-hunter. 



The rutting season is in the early autumn and begins 

 about September ist. The caribou then fight like the 

 moose, elk, and deer. The does bring forth one and 

 sometimes two fawns in May or June, which are spotted 

 like the deer, the spots, however, being not so distinct 

 and noticeable. 



The females, as well as the males, have horns — those 

 of the female being smaller and lighter than the many- 

 tined, wider-palmated antlers of the buck. 



The flesh of the caribou makes excellent venison and 

 is much used by the northern Indians. In gait the 

 caribou resembles the elk and moose more than the 

 smaller deer. He travels with a long, swinging trot, 

 and goes much faster than he appears to. He has 

 good bottom and can travel great distances without a 

 halt, so that it is almost useless to try and follow a band 

 of wild caribou when once they have taken the alarm. 



Like the antelope, the caribou sometimes exhibit 

 curiosity. Mr. Ward, referring to this, says : " The in- 

 difference or curiosity with regard to the noise of fire- 

 arms exhibited by the caribou often stands the hunter 

 in good stead and affords him a chance for a second 



