AMERICAN CARIBOUS 
name, as might be surmised from its sound and spelling, 
but a corruption of the two French words, ‘“‘ carre 
boeuf” or square ox. So Mr. Maddison Grant, the 
secretary of the New York Zoological Society, and one 
of the latest authorities upon the reindeer tells us. It 
is impossible to say much about deer without dwelling 
long upon the antlers. “ Ex cornubus cervum ” might 
almost, but not quite, nowadays be said. The horns 
of the reindeer-caribou are noticeable for the extreme 
development of the brow tine, which projects forward 
over the face, and is often divided into many “ points.” 
It has been asserted that this part of its armature is. 
meant for the peaceful purpose of shovelling away the 
snow which covers its lichen foods. But more likely 
seems the view that it is a defence against blinding 
in the combats of the males in the breeding season. 
Naturally the horns of the males being used for these 
aggressive purposes are larger than those of the females ; 
and indeed in the latter sex the horns are said to be 
completely wanting in one race or at least in some 
individuals. Besides the large brow tines and the 
frequent palmation of the horns, the reindeer horns 
are remarkable for the fact that there is generally a 
large region without any branches whatsoever except 
a small tine. This great expanse of unbranched horn 
is eminently characteristic of the deer. As to “‘ points,” 
i.e. the branches of the horns, forty appears to be the 
outside number nowadays, though fifty are not quite 
to be regarded as imaginary. The definition of a point, 
according to Mr. Grant, “is a knob upon which a watch 
can be hung.” 
THe Moose or ELK 
As another example of the deer tribe we may take 
this the most striking member of that group. It is 
a beast of noble appearance though somewhat leggy, and 
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