260 The Caribou 



ers of the forests, rarely venturing any distance 

 from the shelter of the woods; and the Barren- 

 Ground, or those inhabiting the vast tundras of 

 Arctic America, which regularly migrate from the 

 forest to the open plains, and seek the depths of 

 the woods only as a refuge from the fierce storms 

 of winter. When moving slowly along, nipping 

 a tender branch from a wayside bush or seizing 

 a mouthful of moss from the wet " savanne," the 

 caribou, with low-hanging head, apparently over- 

 weighted by the great antlers, the hoofs clicking 

 as with lazy effort they are successively drawn 

 from the reluctantly yielding ooze of the marsh, 

 presents anything but an attractive appearance. 

 Yet look at the same individual when the tainted 

 air brings to his sensitive nostrils the scent of a 

 dangerous adversary; how changed he suddenly 

 becomes ! The listless, careless pose gives place 

 to one animated and full of spirited attention ; the 

 head is lifted and carried proudly aloft, crowned 

 by its noble weapons of offence and defence ; 

 the ears, from their drooping attitude, the tips 

 directed backward, are thrown forward and seem 

 to quiver with excitement as in quick movement 

 they seek to locate the avenue of the enemy's 

 approach; the legs are rigid, each muscle drawn 

 and tense, ready to respond to the first call for 

 supreme exertion. And then the foe appearing, 

 how grand and animated is the animal's move- 



