78 BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



completely panic-stricken and unable to make any attempt 

 to escape. 



Respecting not only the difference in size between the 

 Arctic and the Woodland Caribou, but also the great dif- 

 ference in the shape and weight of the antlers of the two 

 species, there is much to be said. The Barren-ground 

 Caribou has horns sweeping backward with a long, grace- 

 ful curve, usually with few points except near the summit 

 or crown, which bends forward. The antlers of this species 

 are small in diameter, almost round, and uniform in thick- 

 ness up to the palmation at the crown; and, notwithstanding 

 their great length and general extent, are not much more 

 than one-half the weight of those of the Woodland Caribou. 

 The horns of the Woodland Caribou are shorter in the 

 beam, flatter, more massive in build, more vertical and 

 erect in position, and very much heavier and thicker than 

 are those of his lesser congener. Besides, they branch off 

 on both sides, a short distance from the skull, or somewhat 

 faintly defined burr, into extensive palmations, with many 

 points around the upper and outer edges. 



In both species the horns are smooth and of a yellowish- 

 brown color. In the strange and almost grotesque tortuosi- 

 ties of the brow-antlers, they are singularly beautiful and 

 interesting. In touching upon the points of difference 

 between the Arctic and Woodland species, I shall have 

 occasion, in a subsequent stage of my subject, to refer to 

 the positive difference in the antlers, as being, in my 

 opinion, sufficientlj^ well defined to indicate a distinctness 

 of species. 



While on this subject, or rather on that of horns, I may 

 mention an incident related by an old voyageur of the times 

 of Doctor Kane, Captain Back, and Sir John Franklin. 

 While traveling in the habitat of the Barren-ground Caribou, 

 he relates that he found the carcasses of two large bucks with 

 horns interlocked, having become so while fighting. The 

 skeletons only were to be seen, the Wolves and Foxes having 

 eaten all the fiesh. This, as the reader is aware, is a com- 

 mon occurrence amongst every species of the genus CervidcB. 



