THE CARIBOU. 



563 



The Caribou lives in herds, which vary from ten to three hundred in number. As it is so 

 valuable an animal, it is subject to great persecution at the hands of white and red hunters, 

 who have very ingenious modes of trapping or stalking this wary and swift Deer. The most 

 ingenious plan is that which is employed by the Esquimaux, who dig a large hole in the 

 ground, about live feet in depth, and capable of holding several Deer. They then cover the 

 aperture with a slab of ice or frozen snow, which is balanced on two pivots in such a way that 

 when a Deer treads upon the treacherous floor it suddenly gives way, tilts him into the pit, 

 and resumes its position in readiness for another victim. Another plan is to make a large 



CARIBOU.— Rangifer caribou. 



inclosure, at least a mile in circumference, and to drive the Deer into its fatal precincts. The 

 space within the inclosure is formed into numerous alleys, in each of which are long nooses, 

 so that the Deer are caught and strangled as they move to and fro within the pound. 



The Caribou {Rangifer caribou), or Woodland Caribou, is regarded as a peculiarly 

 American species. It is large, measuring three feet six inches in height at the shoulders. 



The relationship of this species with the European has been a matter of uncertainty, 

 though it is now conceded that they are distinct. 



Its present habitat is south of Hudson Bay to Lake Superior, and south-easterly to Maine 

 and New Brunswick. It was probably common in most of the New England States. 



The Barren Ground Caribou [Rangifer groenlandims) is much smaller than the preced- 

 ing ; the horns, however, are much larger, and are very graceful in form. It inhabits the 

 barren regions of Arctic America. 



