17G NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



obtain at present, l)ut which will probably be subjected to con- 

 siderable alteration in the future by new discoveries. Many of 

 the species, especially those of the extreme north of America, are 

 rapidly diminishing in numbers, and it is most important that 

 they should be thoroughly studied at once. 



In describing the genus Rangifer, European naturalists have 

 until recently held that there was but one species with a circum- 

 polar distribution. Lately, however, they have partly yielded to 

 the American view, and admitted the existence of either two or 

 three distinct species. In the former case they identify the old 

 world reindeer with the Barren Ground Caribou, to which indeed 

 it is closely allied. Judge Caton made a very serious error in 

 identifying the reindeer with our Woodland Caribou. 



The most recent European classification is as follows : 



1. Rangifer tarandits typicus, 



2. " " spitzbcrgcnsis, 



3. " " caribou, 



4. " " tcrracnovac, 



5. " " grociilandicns, 



6. " " arcticus. 



The differences between these types entitle them, under this 

 system, only to sub-specific rank. This classification separates 

 the Spitzbergen form from the typical Scandinavian reindeer, 

 chiefly on the ground of its smaller size, but ignores the existing 

 Siberian forms, concerning which verv little authentic informa- 

 tion is available. 



The writer believes that all the existing species should be 

 divided into two groups : 



T. The Barren Ground Caribou. 

 II. The Woodland Caribou. 



and that the species should be classified as follows : 



I. B.VRREN GROUND CARIDOU. 



a. European species. 



1. Rangifer taraitdus, Northern Europe and Siberia. 



2. " spitzbcrgcnsis, Spitzbergen. 



3. Undcscribed Siberian races, Siberia. 



