SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 185 



that tlicre are well marked and distinct species, which could be 

 established by a careful comparison of specimens from different 

 localities. In fact, recent discoveries indicate the existence of 

 several distinct races of both the wild and domesticated reindeer 

 in eastern Siberia. 



In the Government of Kazan it is said that the reindeer are 

 of an exceedingly large size, and that the females are with- 

 out antlers. A snow-white reindeer has been reported recently 

 (1902) from the mouth of the River Lena. This may be a new 

 species, or, more probably, merely the common form in its win- 

 ter pelage. 



To the north of the old world, reindeer are absent from 

 Francis Joseph Land, but appear to abound in Nova Zembla and 

 in Spitzbergen. The race in the latter islands (Rangifer spits- 

 bcrgcnsis) has clear claim to specific rank, chiefly on the ground 

 of its size, which is far smaller than the type race, but also on 

 account of well-defined characters in the skull. 



In America the different species of Barren Ground Caribou 

 all lie to the north of the various members of the Woodland 

 group. The Greenland race is a separate species (Rangifer 

 gra-iilaiidicits). Nearly all of the Parry Islands and other large 

 land areas lying between Greenland and the mainland are inhab- 

 ited by Barren Ground Caribou, formerly identified with those 

 of the mainland (Rangifer arcticiis). 



A new Barren Ground Caribou from Ellesmere Land was 

 described by Dr. J. A. Allen on October 31, 1902, under the 

 name of Rangifer pearyi. Its chief character is in the color- 

 ing, which is pure white, except for a large dark patch on the 

 middle and posterior part of the back. The new species is thus 

 sharply defined from the darker caribou of Greenland. Its 

 nearest relatives will be found among the caribou now grouped 

 together under the name of Rangifer arcticns. It is very prob- 

 able that investigations among the Parry Islands, and other land 

 masses to the north of the continent, will disclose intermediate 

 forms between these two. 



Caribou, probably of this species, have been found as far 

 north as the neighborhood of Fort Conger, Grinnell Land, in 

 latitude 82°. It appears to be the northernmost member of the 

 genus, and shares with the musk-ox and polar bear the distinc- 

 tion of being one of the few land mammals able to maintain 



