294 MORROW — NOTES ON THE CARIBOU. 



the specimen referred to, than in the Caribou and Virginia Deer ; 

 from the metecarpo-phalangeal articulation, to the point of the hoof, 

 thej measure 7 inches ; while those of the young buck Caribou, 

 measured 7 J inches, of the old doe 7£ inches, and of the old buck 

 9 inches. The gentleman already referred to, informs me that the 

 "Wapiti is a natural trotter, * " he, however, can, and does run much 

 faster than he can trot, but it is a laboured effort, and soon tires 

 him out." " His run is an awkward, lumbering, rolling gallop. A 

 few hundred yards of this gait tells. It is said that an Elk will 

 trot at an equal speed without stopping, or even flagging for twenty 

 miles." The Virginia Deer has a tube scantily furnished interiorly 

 with short hairs, fully developed in each foot, which led me to 

 inquire respecting the gait of this animal, my impression being that 

 it would prove to be a galloping or running deer, and this has been 

 confirmed. " The natural gait of the Virginia Deer is a gallop or 

 run. He never trots except when he wants to move a short distance 

 voluntarily, and then it is a slow lazy gait." 



The inference which you will allow me to draw from this is, 

 that the number of tubes in the feet of the different species of deer 1 

 will point out the gait of the animal, that is, those which have a 

 fully developed tube in each foot, should be bounders and runners, 

 while those wanting the tubes, or having them partially developed 

 in the fore and fully in the hind feet should be trotters. The point 

 is one which has not, to my knowledge, been touched upon by any 

 naturalist ; and as it cannot be further inquired into among us where 

 we have only the Moose and Caribou, it is mentioned in the hope 

 that it may be examined into by those who have access to a number 

 .of different species of Deer. 



It remains for me to present to you the notes of the scientific 

 examinations of the tubes, kindly furnished by Dr. Sommers, as 

 follows : — 



In the observations here annexed, I have endeavoured to furnish 

 an accurate description of the so-called '• interdigital glands" which 

 exist in the feet of the Cariboo, by subjecting them to very careful 

 anatomical and microscopical inspection. The conclusion at 'which 



* " Plains of the Great West," by Col. Dodge, pages 161 and 166. 



