October, 1902.] MAMMALS OF KEEWATIK. 41 



we saw tracks of woodland caribou several times on Steel Eiver, once 

 coupled with the tracks of a wolf that had evidentlj' been trailing the 

 caribou, and on our return trip a caribou was killed on Steel Eiver 

 by a party which ascended a few days in advance of us. 



Between York Factory and Fort Churchill a few small bands are 

 found throughout the year on the 'Barrens/ Tyrrell saw them here 

 early in the winter of 1893." We saw none, but noted a great many 

 tracks on the 'Barrens' between Stony and Owl rivers July 19, and 

 were told by some Indians we me.t that they had killed several within 

 a week. 



Dr. Milne informs me that he has seen them between Fort Churchill 

 and Cape Churchill, and that the latter point is considered a good 

 place for hunting them at any time of the year. He thinks these 

 small bands form tlie ''northern fringe of the bands which migrate to 

 the coast in spring, the great majority of which in their journey 

 cross to the south of Nelson River," an opinion which has weight 

 from his fourteen years' residence at Yorli Factory. A favorite cross- 

 ing point on the Hayes River is about 40 miles alcove York Factory, 

 though they sometimes cross much closer to that post. Their return 

 movement occurs from about the middle of October to the last of 

 November. During these semiannual movements the animals are 

 , much pursued, especially in the fall, when the weather is usually cold 

 enough to preserve the meat for winter use. 



Rangifer arcticus (Richardson). Barren Ground Caribou. 



The presence of Barren Ground caribou was first noted August 3 at 

 a point about 50 miles south of Cape Eskimo, where we saw their 

 tracks on landing. During the next few days the Indians made sev- 

 eral trips in quest of the animals, but found none, although compar- 

 atively fresh tracks were observed in every direction. While we were 

 encamped about 25 miles south of Cape Eskimo August 10 to 13 we 

 frequently heard wolves howling in pursuit of caribou, and occasion- 

 ally saw a few of the latter, of which we killed two, a rather young 

 doe and a buck about three years old. 



The animals were evidentlj^ just commencing their usual fall jour- 

 ney to the southward. Thej=' showed a tendency to seek the vicinity 

 of the shore on account of the protection gained from mosquitos and 

 other insects, which were less numerous there, owing to the wind. 

 Even under favorable conditions thej^ were attended b3' swarms of 

 insects, and when feeding were almost constantly moving. 



Soon after leaving our camp on the morning of August 13 we saw 

 several near the shore. A 3'oung buck on a point of land was 

 approached as closely as the depth of water would permit — about 200 

 yards. He showed little fear, trotting along the shore abreast of our 



a Across the Sub- Arctics of Canada, p. 226, 1898. 



