I860.] Notes on Hie Races of Eein Veer. 383 



bergen Deer," continues this author (at variance with Mr. Dillon, and 

 also with a statement in the Appendix to Sir John Eoss's 2nd voyage) > 

 "I have been able to satisfy myself, from having had an opportunity 

 of seeing in London a haunch, that was brought to England, having 

 been salted, and afterwards dressed ; and from the extraordinary 

 dimensions of it, the animal must have been considerably larger than 

 any of the Bein Deer of Lapland." According to Clarke, — " The 

 breed of Eein Deer in the parish of Eroutikis [in Lapland] is larger 

 than that of Bickasjerf, but smaller than that of Kittila ; and this 

 difference is wholly to be ascribed to the difference in the soil, as suited 

 to the growth of Eein Deer moss ; on which account the Eein Deer 

 of the mountains are always smaller than those of the forest." 



Here, indeed, we have probably the key to the difference between 

 the barren-ground and woodland races of America, if not elsewhere ;* 

 but the difference of habit is remarkable. " In the fur-countries of 

 North America," writes Sir John Eichardson, " there are two well 

 marked and permanent varieties of this animal [incipient species, 

 according to Mr. Darwin's theory], one of them confined to the 

 woody and more southern districts, and the other retiring to the woods 

 only in winter, and passing the summer on the coasts of the Arctic 

 Sea, or on the barren-grounds. f The latter weigh so little, that I 

 have seen a Canadian voyageur throw a full grown doe on his shoulders, 

 and carry it as an English butcher would a sheep. The bucks are 

 larger, and weigh (exclusive of the offal) from 90 to 130 lbs. Those 

 of the "Woodland variety from 200 to 24<0 lbs." " A small doe of 

 this," remarks Hearne, " is equal to a northern buck : but, though 

 so considerably larger, their antlers, although much stronger, are not 

 so large and branching." In Sir John Eoss's 2nd Voyage, we read that 

 a specimen, " of larger size than ordinary," was obtained in Boothia, 

 weighing 250 lbs. From nose to base of tail it measured 5 ft. 10 in. ; 

 the tail 5|- in. : height at the shoulder 4J in. ; of the hind-quarters 

 4 ft. 5 in. ; and girth behind the four legs 55 in. ; those of Melville 

 Island, Boothia, and Spitzbergen, it is stated, " did not average above 

 half the weight." Probably, therefore, a straggler of the woodland 



* The American barren-grounds are physically similar to the mountainous 

 parts of Lapland, and also to the ' tundras' of Siberia. 



f He subsequently remarks — " Contrary to the habits of the Barren-ground 

 Caribou, the Woodland variety travels southward in the spring." 



