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 the 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 by 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 upward 
underneath between the divisions, the Caribou is enabled to pro- 
ceed over crusted snow, to cross frozen lakes, or ascend icy prec- 
ipices, with an ease which places him, when in flight, beyond 
the reach of all enemies, except, perhaps, the nimble and untir- 
ing wolf.” 4 
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. 
