118 THE CARIBOO. 



them with milk and a coarse kind of cheese. In 

 America, the Montaignais and Nasquapee Indians of 

 Labrador, the Milicetes and Micmacs of Nova Scotia 

 and New Brunswick, the Dogribs and the Chipewyans, 

 and various other tribes of the North-West Territory, 

 make it contribute largely to their subsistence. I have 

 observed that the woodland cariboo is much larger than 

 the animal frequenting the Barren Grounds. Of this 

 there can exist no doubt ; but upon this difference of 

 size it has been attempted to found the theory of a dif- 

 ference of species. I do not believe that any such 

 difference exists. Want of shelter and consequent 

 exposure to the rigorous winter of those rock-strewn 

 deserts, want of adequate food, and other circumstances, 

 have doubtlessly dwarfed the animal until it might be 

 regarded in the light of a separate variety. The Bar- 

 ren Ground cariboo does not penetrate far into the 

 forest-covered districts contiguous to its natural habitat, 

 preferring clumps of willows or the isolated groups of 

 dwarf pines which derive a scanty subsistence from the 

 sterile soil of those desolate regions. Its range stretches 

 far north, beyond the limits of the forest, embracing 

 the shores of Hudson Bay and the various islands and 

 peninsulas which render the geography of the Arctic 

 coasts of America so confused and uncertain. As de- 

 scribed by the traveller Erman, a reindeer closely 

 resembling that of Eastern America is used by the 

 Tunguses of Eastern Asia as a beast of burden. I have 

 made a few notes," continued Pierre, " in this pocket- 



