154 THE DEER FAMILY 



They find an abundance of moss in the woods in 

 winter, and wander north in summer to seek a white 

 moss whicli grows on the marshes. Early in the 

 autumn the horns have lost the velvet and are strong. 

 Mr. McGrath says that in the rutting season " they do 

 not hesitate to rush upon the hunters if these are 

 incautious enough to get within their sight." They 

 also strike a bad blow with their feet. 



The shooting-season for caribou is now much shorter 

 than formerly. It was the fashion, in fact, a few years 

 ago to shoot them at all seasons, but to-day in some 

 States it is illegal to shoot them at all. Such is the 

 law in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, New 

 York, in Michigan,* North Dakota, Nevada, and Idaho. 

 The Southern States, of course, have no caribou. The 

 season in Minnesota, the single Northern State east of 

 the Rocky Mountains which permits the shooting of 

 these animals, is from November loth to November 

 30th. Glancing at the laws of the Pacific States, we 

 find that the caribou is not mentioned in California and 

 Oregon, and that the season in Washington is Septem- 

 ber 1st to November ist. 



It will be observed, therefore, that there is very little 

 open caribou-ground in the United States. The cari- 

 bou, however, like the moose, properly belongs to our 

 neighbor across our northern boundary. 



In Newfoundland the open season for caribou is 

 from August ist to October ist and from October 

 20th to February ist, the interval being for the mating 

 season. In Nova Scotia f and New Brunswick the 



* Michigan, to year 1911. 



f Protected at all times to 1905. 



