Ill 
GENUS RAN GIFER.— Hamilton Smith. 
DENTAL FORMULA. 
Incisive g ; Canine ^ ; Molar ^ = 34. 
Horns in both sexes, irregularly palmated, bifurcated, and rather long ; 
canine teeth in both sexes ; muzzle, small. 
According to our opinion, two species of this genus exist — one in the old 
world {Rangifer tarandus ), commonly called the Lapland Reindeer, and the 
Caribou ( Rangifer caribou ) and its varieties, the Reindeer of the American 
continent. Should, however, the varieties of the Reindeer found in different 
parts of the Arctic circle on both continents form one species only, then 
there is but one species in the genus known at present. 
Fossil remains of a Reindeer of small size have been found near Btampes 
in France. 
The generic name, Rangifer, is not of Latin origin, but has been formed 
from the old French term Rangier or Ranger , a Reindeer, probably through 
the later Rangiflre. 
RANGIFER CARIBOU. 
Caribou or American Reindeer. 
PLATE C X X V I . — Males. Fig. 1.— Summer Pelage. Fig. 2. — Winter 
R. Magnitudine fere Elaphi Canadensis ; in testate saturate fuscus, in 
kyeme cinereus ; vitta alba supra ungulas. 
CHAEACTEES. 
JVearly the size of the American Elk (Elaphus Canadensis) ; colour, deep 
brown in summer, grayish-ash in winter, a white fringe above the hoofs. 
SYNONYMES. 
( Genus Cervus. Linn., sectio Rangiferini. 
Caribou, ou Asne Sauvage. Sagard Theodat. Canada, p. 751, Ann. 1636. 
“ La Hontan, t. i. p. 77, Ann. 1703. 
“ Charlevoix, Nouv. France, tom. v. p. 190. 
