244 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



observation. These are larger than on any other quadruped of 

 its size. Their position is more lateral than on the other species, 

 which enables them when required by circumstances to add much 

 to tlie bearing surface of the foot. 



The following is Captain Hardy's description of the foot of the 

 Woodland Caribou in the winter : " But for the Caribou I can 

 aver that its foot is a beautiful adaptation to the snow-covered 

 country in which it resides, and that on ice it has naturally an 

 advantage similar to that obtained artificially by the skater. In 

 winter time the frog is almost entirely absorbed, and the edges of 

 the hoof, now quite concave, grow out in thin sharp ridges ; each 

 division on the under surface presenting the appearance of a 

 huge muscle shell. According to ' The Old Hunter,' who has 

 kindly forwarded to me some specimens shot b}^ him in New- 

 foundland in the fall of 1867, for comparison with examples of 

 my own shot in winter, the frog is absorbed by the latter end of 

 November, when the lakes are frozen ; the shell grows with great 

 rapidity, and the frog does not fill up again till spring, when the 

 antlers bud out. With this singular conformation of the foot, its 

 great lateral spread and the additional assistance afforded in 

 maintaining a foothold on slippery surfaces by the long stiff bris- 

 tles which grow downwards from the fetlock, curving upwai-d 

 underneath between the divisions, the Caribou is enabled to pro- 

 ceed over crusted snow, to cross frozen lakes, or ascend icy prec- 1| 

 ipices, with an ease which places him, when in flight, beyond 

 the reach of all enemies, except, perhaps, the nimble and untir- ,^ 

 ing wolf." 1 "^ 



These judicious observations show the appreciative naturalist 

 in the study of his subject, and should teach us not to pass by 

 facts which appear to be unimportant as unworthy of our atten- 

 tion. In this case our author readily perceived their significance, 

 and points out their importance in the economy of the animal. 

 They show us how readily nature interposes to change structural 

 formations to meet emergencies arising from peculiar conditions 

 of life. We can readily understand how such a foot is required to 

 secure safe and rapid locomotion in the winter season in the frigid 

 zone and a rough and broken country, intersected by ice-bound 

 lakelets and frozen streams. But these conditions only exist for a 

 part of the year, and it is only during that season that the foot 

 of the Caribou is made to conform to the exigencies which they 

 impose. Upon the disappearance of the snow and ice, the sharp 



1 Forest Life in Acadie, pp. 129, 130. 



