42 THE AMERICAN REINDEER. 



frenzy, and will attack any living creature that comes 

 across his path. He uses as weapons his horns and fore 

 feet, and with the latter deals such tremendous blows that 

 he can strike a wolf dead on the spot. He swims with 

 ease and swiftness, and in the summer spends much of his 

 time in the water. His skin is remarkable for its thick- 

 ness, and when manufactured into clothing will defy a 

 pistol-shot or a sword-thrust. His flesh is much valued, 

 either when eaten fresh or smoked like ham. The dain- 

 tiest portion, however, is said to be the large muzzle, or 

 upper lip. 



Still farther north is found the Cariboo, or American 

 Eeindeer, which is identical in species with the reindeer of 

 Lapland, but has never been tamed. It lives in herds, 

 from two to three hundred in number, and is hunted 

 chiefly for the sake of its skin. Such is its speed and 

 endurance, however, that its chase is an arduous and 

 exhausting labour. 



Proceeding southward, we meet ^vith the "Wapiti, or 

 Carolina Stag, which stands about five feet in height at 

 the shoulders, and measures about seven feet nine inches 

 from nose to tail. It is a gregarious animal, but the herds 

 vary in number as widely as those of the cariboo. Like 

 the elephant-herds, they are always under the guidance of 

 some experienced veteran, who appears to rule with "a 

 rod of iron," and exact and obtain unqualified submission. 

 He is no constitutional monarch, but a despot, and his 

 subjects must tremble and obey. How he communicates 



