THE CARIBOU. 83 



than fifty caliber, carrying the maximum of powder and 

 lead compatible with the safety of the arm, and also that 

 of the man behind it, would naturally appear to be the 

 proper arm for this exciting sport. 



Parker Gillmore, a celebrated sj^ortsman and practical 

 experimental naturalist of no ordinary ability, speaking 

 of the. Caribou, says: 



Although there are upon the American Continent two very distinctly 

 marked varieties of the Reindeer, I can not adopt the idea of many travelers, 

 that, so conspicuous is their dissimilarity, they are entitled to be considered 

 distinct species. 



We are all aware that difference of climate, local causes, and abundance or 

 paucity of food, work wonderful alterations on animal life — more especially in 

 regulating their stature; for instance, the Moose Deer of Labrador seldom 

 exceeds sixteen and a half hands, while that of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick 

 has been known to attain a height of twenty-one, or even twenty-two, hands 

 (vide Audubon). Now, the grounds that are taken for asserting that there are 

 two species of Caribou are exactly the same, and would equally justify the 

 decision that there are two species of Elk. The Woodland Caribou leads a 

 life of comparative idleness, among the dense swamps and pine-clad hills, 

 where food is constantly to be found in abundance. The Barren-ground Cari- 

 bou, on th(! other hand, inhabits the immense flats or mountain-ridges close to 

 the Arctic Circle, where vegetable growth is sparse, and little shelter is afforded 

 from the biting, cold winds and snows peculiar to so high a latitude. So great, 

 often, are the straits the latter variety are submitted to from the inhospitable 

 nature of their habitat, that in some districts they are compelled to become 

 migratory to obtain the necessaries of life. Is it, then, to be wondered at that 

 there should be a marked difference in size between the inhabitant of the shel- 

 tered forest and the wanderer upon the barren upland waste? 



While agreeing in the main with the rationale of the 

 foregoing argument, it seems to me, nevertheless, that the 

 existence of such a palpably marked difference in the 

 shape, size, and weight of the horns of the two varieties 

 would naturally indicate that they are distinct and separate 

 species, each formed and constituted i^eculiarly for the 

 habitat in which, in the grand economy of Nature, it has 

 been placed. The difference to me appears more apparent 

 than that existing between the Wood Buffalo and the Bison 

 of the plains. 



The Arctic Caribou has long, spreading, slender horns, 

 specially formed for traveling upon the open plains 

 and thinly wooded hills of the Arctic Circle; while the 



