THE CARIBOO. 121 



any exertion, however arduous, which it may be called 

 on to undergo. It is a singular fact that the horns of 

 the cariboo vary considerably in different specimens. 

 Some are more palmated than others, and are furnished 

 with a greater number and variety of points. There is 

 a similar difference in the size of antlers : those of 

 Newfoundland and Labrador seem to reach a greater 

 size than is observable in the ordinary Canadian variety. 

 But few old bucks retain their antlers during the win- 

 ter. The does and the young bucks, however, preserve 

 their armature during that season. In spring they 

 fall, when the new antlers grow again in a short time. 



" ' As I have already mentioned, the food of the cari- 

 boo consists in great part of mosses and lichens ; and in 

 the winter, when these are covered with snow, the ani- 

 mal uses its hoofs to clear away that impediment, for 

 which purpose they are singularly well adapted. 



" ' The woodland cariboo has two seasons of migra- 

 tion in the spring, and again in the autumn. This 

 has been accounted for in different ways. Some have 

 said that the scarcity of food in certain districts neces- 

 sitates a change of feeding-ground. Others assert that 

 as the migrations uniformly lead to the open plains 

 and sterile hill ranges, the probability is that the ani- 

 mals retreat from the ceaseless torment that they suffer 

 from the flies which abound in the woods. I cannot 

 say which is the true cause ; but I have observed, as I 

 doubt not you have also, that even during the winter 

 season the cariboo often leaves a locality quite suddenly. 



