320 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



Lake." Caribou still exist in small numbers in the Peace 

 River district, as in the vicinity of Peavine Lake and on 

 Mount Bickford and Tuscoola Mountain (Cowan, 1939), and 

 are presumably of this race. According to Anderson, there is 

 some evidence that in areas visited by game officers in the 

 winter of 1937-38, the caribou are increasing. With proper 

 protection, they should hold their own in most of their range 

 for the present. 



MOUNTAIN CARIBOU 

 RANGIFER MONTANUS Seton 



Rangifer montanus Seton, Ottawa Nat., vol. 13, p. 129, Aug., 1899 (Selkirk Range, 



near Revelstoke, British Columbia). 

 FIGS.: Allen, J. A., 1902b, pp. 154, 155, 156, 157, figs. 3-6 (antlered skulls). 



RANGIFER FORTIDENS Hollister 



Rangifer fortidens Hollister, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 56, no. 35, p. 3, Feb. 7, 1912 

 ("Head of Moose Pass branch of the Smoky River, Alberta (northeast of 

 Mount Robson) "). 



FIG.: Hollister, 1912a, pi. 10 (antlered skull of type). 



Hollister, in 1912, described the large caribou of the woodland 

 type from Mount Robson region as a species distinct from R. 

 montanus of the Selkirk and Gold Ranges in southeastern 

 British Columbia. The two must be closely related (the type 

 localities are little over a hundred miles apart) and may even 

 prove to be much the same when further study can be made 

 with adequate specimens. Hence it is convenient to treat both 

 together here. 



Both agree in being darker in color than the more eastern 

 forms. Dr. J. A. Allen (1902b) describes R. montanus in 

 September coat as in general terms "a black caribou, with the 

 neck and shoulders, especially in the males, much lighter than 

 the body and limbs." The "whole body and legs blackish 

 brown, varying (in different specimens) to glossy black over 

 the middle of the dorsal area from shoulders to rump; lighter, 

 more brownish black, on the flanks and ventral surface; 

 inguinal region, sides and under surface of tail, a narrow band 

 bordering the hoofs, and ventral median line of neck, grayish 

 white; nose and edge of lips grayish white; sides of neck 

 grayish brown varied with blackish and, in the males, tinged 

 more or less with rusty. The females are much darker than 

 the males, especially on the neck and shoulders, but have the 



