88 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 
gradually they increase in size until they reach ma- 
turity the following autumn. During growth the antlers 
remain comparatively soft, and are covered with skin 
and fine short hair, known as the “velvet.” At maturity 
a circular burr is formed at the base of the horn. This 
has the effect of cutting off the blood-vessels, and causing 
the velvet to dry and shrivel and ultimately peel off. 
The peeling of the velvet is also hastened by the deer 
rubbing its antlers upon rocks and trees. With each 
successive year the antlers are supplemented by one 
additional prong, so that the number of prongs or tines 
is ‘a positive indication of the age-of the deer. I have 
counted as many as twenty-two prongs on one horn, or 
twice that number on the pair. Unlike every other 
variety of deer, the caribou is antlered in both sexes, the 
only difference being that in the case of the females the 
horns are rather smaller, and are more slender and 
delicate in their formation than those of the males. 
The hoofs of the reindeer are very large in proportion 
to other parts of the body, and, being cloven, they 
spread greatly in walking. This characteristic peculiarly 
fits them for travelling upon the crusted snow, through 
which other deer would break and flounder in a hopeless 
manner. 
Concerning the habits of the reindeer, they are both 
gregarious and migratory. During the summer season 
their resort is the open plain or the sea-coast, where, to 
some extent, they escape from their tormentors, the 
mosquitos and black flies, and find abundance of food 
in the tender grasses, the ground birch, or the willow 
buds. In the autumn they turn their steps toward the 
woodlands or more sheltered districts, where they spend — 
