54§ UNGULATA. 



used for sewing, while out of its tendons string is manufactured. From 

 the old antlers of the Reindeer various utensils are made, such asspoons, 

 knife-handles, etc., and when the horns are young, gelatine is extracted 

 from them by submitting them to a severe course of boiling. Their 

 excrement, when dried, is formed into bricks, which serve for fuel 

 Many tribes even turn to advantage the cropped lichens contained in 

 the stomach of a slaughtered animal. The Esquimaux and Green- 

 landers add to these lichens chopped meat, blood, and fat; v/hen this 

 is smoke-dried, they are extremely fond of it. The Tunguses, or no- 

 madic inhabitants of Siberia, add wild berries to the above northern 

 delicacy, then make it into cakes, which rank high among the articles 

 of their cuisine. 



THE CARIBOU. 



The Caribou, or American Reindeer, is considered by some natural- 

 ists as identical with the species above described. We shall take the lib- 

 erty of regarding it as a separate species for the purpose of description. 



The Caribou, Tarandus caribou (Plate XL), is larger than the Rein- 

 deer, has smaller antlers and a darker color, and lives mostly in the forests. 

 It has never been brought under the sway of man, nor used for any domes- 

 tic purposes. The Caribou lives in herds varying from ten to three hun- 

 dred in number, and is an object of chase for both white and red hunters. 

 The Esquimaux take it in an ingeniously constructed pitfall. A hole, 

 about five feet deep, and capable of holding several deer, is dug out. It is 

 then covered with a slab of ice or frozen snow, which is balanced on two 

 pivots, so that when the Caribou treads upon it, it gives way, and pre- 

 cipitates him into the pit. Other tribes are said to make a large inclosure 

 into which the deer is driven. In the inclosing fence numerous narrow 

 gaps are left, and in each gap a strong running noose is suspended. The 

 Caribou, in its attempts to escape, makes for one of these treacherous 

 outlets, and is caught by the fatal noose. Some Indians go in couples to 

 the chase. The sportsman who goes first carries in one hand a Cari- 

 bou's antler ; the other sportsman, who follows his leader closely, bears 

 a bundle of twigs, which he rubs against the antler borne by his partner. 

 When the herd perceives the approach of this remarkable object, it stands 

 still in astonishment. The Indians creep up to the gazing Caribou till 

 they are within range, then both fire their guns at once, then run toward 



