474 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Endicott Mountains and adjoining parts of the northern Rocky Moun¬ 
tain system and thence to the Arctic coast, and smaller ones throughout 
the length of the Alaska Peninsula. Thence inland to Mount McKin¬ 
ley and southward along the Nutzotin Mountains to the eastern side 
of the St. Elias Range scattering herds are distributed. (See fig. 50.) 
Except on the Alaska Peninsula caribou are very scarce on the coast 
of Bering Sea, where formerly abundant, having been driven out or 
extirpated. But elsewhere their original range is so little frequented 
by man that they retain most of it, though probably in greatly re¬ 
duced numbers. Nevertheless, with the possible exception of the 
walrus and the large brown bears, the caribou are in greater danger 
of extirpation than any of the other large animals of Alaska. Like 
most gregarious animals, they are easily killed in large numbers and 
even when found singly or in small-herds display but little sagacity 
in eluding pursuers. Hence they fall ready victims to ruthless meat 
hunters and conscienceless Indians, Although chiefly living in open 
country they depend very little upon sight for protection, and their 
keenness of scent avails only slightly against hunters who know their 
habits. Once found it requires little skill to kill them, and although 
this tends to lower them in the eyes of genuine sportsmen they are 
still highly regarded, not only for the handsome trophies furnished 
by their antlers, but also on account of their interesting habits. They 
present especially inviting subjects for the animal photographer, but 
as yet no really good photographs of them have been taken. 
Formerly the woodland caribou inhabited Maine and other north¬ 
ern States, but in recent years it has disappeared and may never re¬ 
occupy its old territory. The caribou of Alaska, therefore, are the 
only ones now to be found in the territory of the United States. 
Though belonging nominally to three species, Rangifer arcticus , of 
northern Alaska, Rangifer granti , of the Alaska Peninsula, and 
Rangifer stonei of the Kenai Peninsula, they differ from each other 
only slightly. They are' essentially barren-ground caribou, though 
the last ( stonei ) is somewhat larger than the others and shows some 
resemblances to the large mountain caribou of British Columbia. 
MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 
Only one species of mountain sheep lives in Alaska, the white or 
Dali sheep (Ovis dalli). a It differs decidedly from the well-known 
bighorn or Rocky Mountain sheep, being practically pure white in 
color, somewhat smaller in size, and having more slender and rather 
more gracefully curved horns. Its former range included practically 
“Although sometimes attributed to Alaska, both the Rocky Mountain sheep 
(Ovis canadensis ) and the gray or Stone’s sheep (Ovis dalli stonei) find their 
northern limits in Canadian territory. 
