THE CARIBOU 265 



exuded from the glands between the toes, by 

 which the species track each other. Signalling 

 communication is also established in time of danger 

 by the quick movements of the short white tail. 

 Both male and female have horns, the buck's being 

 particularly fine. 



The caribou thrives amongst the hills, where pine 

 woods afford food and shelter. They are fond of 

 wandering amongst the swamps contiguous to such 

 places, when the heights are snowbound and food 

 is scarce. 



Those that confine themselves to the higher planes 

 do not compare in size and appearance with those 

 that frequent richer feeding ground. It is this fact 

 that accounts for the different varieties. 



Fleet of foot as the caribou is, it sometimes 

 shows great cowardice. When one or two in the 

 herd are shot, the others seem paralysed, and do not 

 attempt to take to flight. In crossing lakes, they 

 swim so rapidly that a canoe can hardly keep pace 

 with them. They frequent parts of the Ottawa 

 district, Lake Nipissing, and the northern shores of 

 Lake Superior. The chief home is in British 

 Columbia, The Selkirk Mountains, Chilcotin, and 

 the banks of the Columbia and Stikine rivers are 

 favourite haunts. 



The black bear, Ursus americamts, is called the 

 musk-wa by the Cree Indians, and ma-kwa by the 

 Salteaux. It is one of the chief specimens of 



