respectively) were recorded as follows: adult male, June 18, 420, 440;
adult male (figs. 3, 4), August 17, 1165, 1205; adult female (fig. 21),
September 21, 220, 165.
Scratching or anointing of antlers in the velvet with a hind hoof was
observed in an adult buck on June 16, and in a fawn on August 27.
While there is undoubtedly some correlation between the age of a Caribou
and the number of points on its antlers, I am not aware that such a
correlation has been worked out to a satisfactory degree. The Schweder
brothers judged a Caribou's years by the number of points on both
antlers, yet freely admitted that they had limited confidence in such a
criterion. Probably they would be nearer the actual facts if they
counted the points on only one antler. The situation is complicated by
the fact (if we are to credit Jacobi, 1931: 238) that bucks in other
forms of _Rangifer_ exhibit the best development of antlers at six to
eight years.
_References._--Hearne, 1795: 198-199; Franklin, 1823: 240-241;
Lyon, 1824: 270; Richardson, "1825": 327-328, and 1829: 241;
Richardson, in Back, 1836: 499; Armstrong, 1857: 478; Murray,
1858: 199-206; B. R. Ross, 1861: 439; Osborn, 1865: 227; Pike,
1917 (1892): 49; J. B. Tyrrell, 1892: 128; Dowling, 1893: 107;
Russell, 1895: 51, and 1898: 225; Whitney, 1896: 238-239; J. W.
Tyrrell, 1908 (1898): 79-80; A. J. Stone, 1900: 53; W. J.
McLean, 1901: 6; Elliot, 1902: 279-280; Hanbury, 1904: 95, 116,
133; Hornaday, 1904: 138; J. A. Allen, 1908a: 488; R. M.
Anderson, 1913b: 505; Stefánsson, 1913b: 151; Buchanan, 1920:
126; Blanchet, 1925: 33, 1926b: 47-48, and 1930: 49;
Birket-Smith, 1929 (1): 50, 89, 239-251; Seton, 1929, +3+:
102-103; Critchell-Bullock, 1930: 192; Jacobi, 1931: 237; Sutton
and Hamilton, 1932: 81-86; Ingstad, 1933: 159; Hornby, 1934:
105; Murie, 1935: 20, and 1939: 244; Clarke, 1940: 95; Downes,
1943: 228; Manning, 1943a: 52-53; Harper, 1949: 228; Banfield,
1951a: 17-18; Barnett, 1954: 104.
_Rubbing trees_
Charles Schweder gave the following account. The bucks hasten the
shedding of the velvet in the autumn by rubbing their antlers on various
trees--willow, spruce, or tamarack. The individual may complete the
operation in possibly half a day. It is thought, however, that most of
the velvet comes off at the first tree. The animals usually select a
tree standing by itself rather than one in a thicket. It is usually a
small tree--say 4 feet high and 1 inch in diameter. Perhaps a spruce is
most often selected. Branches are broken and much of the bark is scraped
off in the process. The velvet soon dries up, so that it is little
noticed. Charles did not recall having seen any hanging in a tree.
The numbers of rubbing trees that I noticed at Simons' Lake in
mid-October indicated that Caribou must have been much more numerous
there during the previous month than in the vicinity of the Windy River
post. These trees were particularly in evidence on the outskirts of a
spruce and tamarack thicket at the head of the lake. They were mostly
tamaracks, with some black spruces. Of the two spruces shown in figure
26, the larger was about 4 feet high. Many of the young trees had been
killed. The branches and the tops had been pretty generally broken off
and were lying on the ground. Most of the damage was fresh, but some of
it dated from previous years.
_Reference._--Hanbury, 1904: 232.
MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY
_Pelage and molt_
When the Caribou migrate northward through the Nueltin Lake region in
May and June, they still retain their winter pelage. It is now worn and
faded, and harsh as well, in contrast to the fresh, dark, soft autumn
coat.
This stage is represented by an adult buck (No. 1046) of June 18. The
general color above is Cream-Buff (capitalized color terms are derived
from Ridgway, 1912), changing gradually to Isabella Color on sides of
head and body; no distinct dark longitudinal stripe on lower sides (such
as appears in summer and autumn pelage); tail Cream-Buff above, the rest
Cartridge Buff; rump-patch varying from Cartridge Buff to Cream-Buff;
tip of snout and chin dirty whitish; small area below nostrils near
Mummy Brown; triangular area behind nostrils Cream-Buff; crown Cartridge
Buff; ears Olive-Buff on outer surface, Cartridge Buff on inner surface;
posterior venter Cartridge Buff; legs Isabella Color in front, remainder
Cream-Buff; hoofs black, bordered above with Cartridge Buff hairs,
forming a band ½-2 inches in width; antler velvet in this and other
specimens Olive-Brown. The marked difference between the dark brownish
and white pelage of the autumn and the Cream-Buff coat of early June
presumably results from wear and fading, without molt. The does and the
yearlings in June appear grayer than the adult bucks.
In another adult male (No. 1033), collected June 3, the darker part of
the pelage is Buffy Brown rather than Cream-Buff.
The molt of the bucks begins in June but takes place chiefly in July,
while the animals are somewhere to the north of the Nueltin Lake region.
On their return in August they have largely completed their summer
transformation in appearance. A buck of August 17 had just a little of
the winter fur still clinging to its lower back; and another on August
20 was in similar condition. At this season the white mane is developed
only on its lower portion (figs. 9, 10, 12), but by the end of September
the white has spread upward over practically the whole neck (fig. 22),
and in some cases over the shoulders.
In an adult male (No. 1144) of October 16, representing the pelage of
the rutting season, the posterior crown is near Tilleul Buff, the
anterior crown somewhat browner; sides of head and upper throat between
Verona Brown and Buffy Brown; area about and between eyes somewhat
darker; triangular area behind nostrils (apex extending halfway to eyes)
and lower chin between Mummy Brown and Warm Blackish Brown; tip of snout
and chin Cartridge Buff; ears pale creamy white on both surfaces; whole
neck and shoulder mantle whitish, washed with Cartridge Buff, and
changing gradually to the brownish of the sides of the head; long hairs
along median ventral line of the neck tipped with Natal Brown; dorsal
area, from shoulders to rump, Prout's Brown; stripe on lower sides Mummy
Brown, separated from dorsal area by an ill-defined lighter stripe,
mixed with whitish hairs; top of tail slightly paler than back, the rest
white; small rump-patch mostly white; chest Mummy Brown; mid-venter
varying from Deep Olive-Buff anteriorly to Cream-Buff posteriorly;
posterior venter white; forelegs near Bone Brown; hind legs between
Mummy Brown and Olive-Brown, with a pale spot on the inner side of the
heel (this spot noticeable also in doe and fawn); hoofs black, bordered
above with whitish hairs. The hides of this specimen and of two other
adult bucks (No. 1111, September 29, and No. 1132, October 16) were
prime. The dark lateral stripe, which shows quite distinctly in summer
and fall specimens of both sexes (figs. 7, 8, 10, 21, 22), from fawns
(except very young ones) to adults, and which is also a prominent
feature in Old World Reindeer (_cf._ Flerov, 1933), has been largely or
wholly overlooked in some descriptions of _Rangifer a. arcticus_.
The summer molt occurs later in the does than in the bucks. Some of the
former return toward the end of August while still retaining most of the
winter pelage. Others exhibit remnants of it in patches, especially on
the lower back; this was true even of an adult doe (No. 1101) secured as
late as September 21 (fig. 21). Its hide, however, was prime. In this
specimen the crown is near Verona Brown, with varying admixture of
whitish hairs; sides of head Verona Brown; upper throat a little paler;
a poorly defined area behind nostrils, and lower chin, Mummy Brown; tip
of snout and chin Cartridge Buff; ears Drab, varying to Pale Olive-Buff,
especially on inner surface; neck Drab dorsally, mixed with whitish
hairs, the remainder Pale Olive-Buff; dorsal area, from shoulder to
rump, Mars Brown; lateral stripe on lower sides Mars Brown, separated
from dorsal area by a poorly defined but conspicuous area of Light
Cinnamon-Drab; top of tail like back, the rest whitish, washed laterally
with Pale Pinkish Buff; small rump-patch mostly white; chest Mummy
Brown; venter Light Drab, becoming whitish in inguinal region; forelegs
Natal Brown, slightly darker in front; hind legs Natal Brown, with a
pale spot on the inner edge of the heel; hoofs black, bordered above
with whitish "spats" varying from ½ to 1½ inches in width.
Another doe, secured on November 3 but not preserved, was apparently in
long, full winter pelage, with whitish mane and shoulders. The dorsum
generally was grayish; the top of the rump, buffy gray. The white
rump-patch appeared to be more extensive, and to contain longer hairs,
than in the doe of September 21; likewise the white "spats" appeared
much more extensive.
As winter comes on, the fur of the Caribou grows longer and paler gray.
One incipient stage of such a change from the summer coat began to be
noticeable as early as September 13. A buck that came trotting down out
of the Windy Hills on September 27 revealed the splendor of its new
winter coat, with an amazing amount of creamy white, chiefly on the mane
and shoulders. The long mane wears off during the winter, according to
Charles Schweder. It looks best, he added, when the bucks start to fight
in the fall. A yearling or large fawn on October 21 was distinctly
creamy about the neck and shoulders. After describing a winter female
from Wager River, Seton remarks (1929, +3+: 98): "The general impression
is of a creamy white animal, with a gray blanket on its back."
For the first couple of months of its life the fawn wears a soft and
woolly coat. An example was furnished by a male fawn (No. 1095; fig. 23)
of September 7, which must have been born several weeks later than the
average date. It was actually smaller and less developed than another
male fawn collected on August 20. It was molting into the next pelage
(described in the following paragraph), and its hide was unprime. The
general color is Deep Brownish Drab; this is overlaid with longer hairs
of Pale Olive-Buff on the median dorsal line of the neck, on the venter,
and on part of the legs; a median stripe on the back near Hay's Brown;
no distinct lateral stripe; ears and posterior crown Cartridge Buff;
forepart of crown Deep Brownish Drab; area above eye Cream-Buff; snout
varying from Deep Brownish Drab above to Pale Gull Gray on sides;
transverse band behind nostrils Dusky Brown; tip of snout whitish; tail
Deep Brownish Drab above, pale creamy on sides, and white beneath;
rump-patch whitish; chin anteriorly whitish, posteriorly Dusky Drab;
throat whitish to Pale Gull Gray; lower part of legs, in front, Buffy
Brown; hoofs black, bordered above with a very narrow (¼-inch) strip of
whitish hairs. A very similar young fawn, taken on August 2, 1907, has
been described by Seton (1929, +3+: 98).
In a male fawn (No. 1072) collected on August 20 the general color is
between Olive-Brown and Natal Brown; a paler longitudinal area
separating the lateral stripe from the dorsal area; ears Clove Brown
externally, pale creamy internally; transverse band behind nostrils
Blackish Brown; tip of snout whitish; sides of head varying from
Cream-Buff above eyes to Cartridge Buff below; tail Bone Brown above,
white below; rump-patch whitish; legs Buffy Brown, darker in front; chin
anteriorly whitish, posteriorly Hair Brown; throat Cartridge Buff;
venter Light Drab; hoofs black, bordered above with a narrow (¼- to
½-inch) strip of whitish hairs.
_References._--Franklin, 1823: 240-241; Richardson, 1829: 242;
B. R. Ross, 1861: 439; Schwatka, 1885: 60-61; J. B. Tyrrell,
1892: 128; Russell, 1898: 91, 226; J. W. Tyrrell, 1908 (1898):
79; A. J. Stone, 1900: 52; Hanbury, 1904: 194; MacFarlane, 1905:
682-683; Blanchet, 1925: 33, and 1926b: 47; Seton, 1929, +3+:
98-99, 104; Critchell-Bullock, 1930: 193; Jacobi, 1931: 236;
Sutton and Hamilton, 1932: 81, 84-86; Murie, 1939: 244; Clarke,
1940: 89, 90; Downes, 1943: 226; Manning, 1943a: 53; Harper,
1949: 228, 229, 230; Banfield, 1951a: 15-17.
_Albinism_
In _Rangifer arcticus arcticus_ this appears to be an exceptionally rare
phenomenon. There are references to albinos by the following authors:
Russell (1895: 51; 1898: 91, 226), Whitney (1896: 237), Boas (1901: 150,
501), MacFarlane (1905: 682-683), Ingstad (1933: 312), and Degerbøl
(1935: 49, 51).
_Foot-glands_
I dissected out the glands from the hind feet of an adult male Caribou
(No. 1046). Seton (1929, +3+: 68) has discussed these structures in the
Woodland Caribou and the Norwegian Reindeer; and Pocock (1911: 960-962,
fig. 138B) and Jacobi (1931: 22, fig. 4), in the Reindeer. Many hairs
had their base in the glands, and there was a fatty secretion on the
hairs adjacent to the glands. I judged that the opening to the exterior
extended in a more or less dorso-anterior direction. One of the
suggested functions of these glands is anointing the velvet covering of
the antlers. I was highly interested, therefore, in seeing an old buck
on June 16 rub the tips of its growing antlers with each hind foot in
turn. Meanwhile it inclined its antlers alternately to one side and
backwards to place one of them at a time within convenient reach of the
hind foot on that side. It seemed to rub its snout as well as the antler
tips. In Charles Schweder's experience this action was always carried
out with the hind foot, not the forefoot. The latter contains a similar
but smaller gland, according to Jacobi (1931: 22), while Pocock (1911:
960-961) gives contrary testimony. On August 27 I also saw a fawn
rubbing a knob of its skin-covered antlers with a hind foot.
Another function of the foot-glands is suggested by an observation of
Dugmore's (1913: 89-90), which has been mentioned in the section on
_Signaling_. I could not definitely connect any of the various occasions
of panic that I observed, with scent from the foot-glands of preceding
Caribou that had been frightened.
_References._--Caton, 1881: 265; Pocock, 1911: 960-962; Seton,
1929, +3+: 68, 105; Sutton and Hamilton, 1932: 84; Harper, 1949:
230.
_Mastology_
Very little seems to have been published on this subject. Jacobi (1931:
24) merely remarks that in the Reindeer the mammae number four, or
occasionally six, but that the supernumerary ones are not functional.
The four rudimentary mammae in a male fawn of _arcticus_ (No. 1072) of
August 20 seemed remarkable for their arrangement in a nearly straight
transverse row--quite different from the more rectangular pattern in a
domestic Cow or in a male Moose, as figured by Seton (1929, +3+: 221).
In an adult doe (No. 1101) of September 21 the anterior pair are about
twice as far apart as the posterior pair; each of the mammae appears no
more than a couple of inches from the one nearest to it. The arrangement
in a two-year-old buck, as shown by Seton (1929, +3+: 106), is
approximately intermediate between linear and rectangular.
_Fat_
A Caribou (probably a buck) secured about the end of June was reported
to have back fat half an inch thick--possibly resulting from the fresh
green spring feed. In August, however, scarcely any fat was to be found
on the animals; perhaps the annual renewal of pelage and the summer
harassment by flies had been deterrents to the storage of fat. In
September and early October the Caribou were in prime condition. On
September 19 there was a fresh piece of back fat half an inch thick; two
days later there was another piece three times as thick. In 1943 (a year
of great mushroom growth) the animals were said to have become
particularly fat. According to Charles Schweder, the doe never becomes
so fat as the buck; one of September 21, still nursing, was just
slightly fat. An adult buck of September 29 was recorded as "somewhat
fat"; two of October 16 were "rather fat" and "quite fat." Charles has
seen as much as 3 inches of fat on a buck. The strips of back fat
brought into camp on October 8 from several bucks weighed about 5 to 10
lb. apiece. Such fatness evidently prepares the bucks for the strain of
the rutting season, when they neglect their feeding and become very poor
and thin. This loss of fat occurs in about two weeks. The does also lose
some fat at this season, but slowly. In some winters the Caribou remain
fat, but in other winters they do not. In the latter case there may be
deep snow that hinders their feeding. In the spring the Caribou become
fat again, and they are in that condition when they arrive from the
south in May.
The eagerness of the Eskimos and the Indians for fat results in their
selection of the biggest bucks, which generally carry the most fat.
Charles Schweder spoke of the tail of such an animal almost
disappearing, apparently engulfed in fat! Besides its use in the native
diet, the fat goes into the making of "Eskimo candles" (see section on
_Relations to man_).
_References._--Franklin, 1823: 240; Armstrong, 1857: 477-478;
Whitney, 1896: 161; Elliot, 1902: 276; R. M. Anderson, in
Stefánsson, 1913b: 505-506; Stefánsson, 1921: 231-234,
246-247, 252; Jenness, 1922: 48, 101, 248; Birket-Smith, 1929
(1): 48, 90; Seton, 1929, +3+: 113-114; Critchell-Bullock, 1930:
193; Weyer, 1932: 40; Hornby, 1934: 105; Hamilton, 1939: 109;
Downes, 1943: 228; Manning, 1943a: 53.
BODY-MEASUREMENTS AND WEIGHTS
Columns:
A: No.
B: Sex and age
C: Date
D: Length
E: Tail
F: Foot
G: Ear from crown
H: Height at shoulder
I: Shoulder joint to hip joint
J: Circumference of neck at base
K: Circumference of body behind shoulders
L: Length of front hoof
M: Length of hind hoof
N: Estimated weight (lbs.)
======================================================================
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1033 M ad Jun 3 1820 160 516 130 1000 1000 81.5 78 140
1046 M ad Jun 18 1880 190 546 137 1029 92 84.5
1065 M ad Aug 17 1750 146 555 120 1080 1010 1185* 80 74 200
1111 M ad Sep 29 1710 155 532 129 1020 740 82.5 78 200
1132 M ad Oct 16 1710 120 530 120 1002 975 200
1144 M ad Oct 16 117 545 120 1110 90 84.5 200
Average of M M ad 1774 148 537 126 1080 995 740 1093 85.2 79.8 188
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1101 F ad Sep 21 1590 113 490 134 870 860 490 77 72 160
1095 M juv Sep 7 960 90 360 85 620 525 290 610 49 45 35
1072 M juv Aug 20 1150 125 423 89 750 645 60.5 55.5 50
[Footnote *: _After skinning._]
======================================================================
MEASUREMENTS OF SKULLS
Columns:
A: No.
B: Sex and age
C: Date
D: Condylobasal length*
E: Zygomatic width
F: Interorbital width
G: Length of nasal
H: Maxillary tooth-row
I: Mandibular tooth-row
======================================================================
A B C D E F G H I
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1065 M ad Aug 17 373 130 140 125 94 101
1144 M ad Oct 16 356 135 140 122 82
1111 M ad Sep 29 359 134 138 112 82
1046 M ad Jun 18 374 131 135 121 97 104
1132 M ad Oct 16 350 136 138 117 83 91
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Average of M M ad 362.4 133.2 138.2 119.4 87.6 98.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1101 F ad Sep 21 324 117 121 101 85
1036 F ad Sep -- 118 120 83.5 79 83.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1072 M juv Aug 20 215 92 85 54
1095 M juv Sep 7 189 85 77 42
[Footnote *: _Tip of premaxillary to posterior plane of condyles._]
======================================================================
MEASUREMENTS OF ANTLERS
Columns:
A: No.
B: Sex and age
C: Date
D: Total length, right antler
E: Total length, left antler
F: Brow antler, length
G: Brow antler, width
H: Greatest spread of beams (outside measurement)
I: Total number of points
==============================================================
A B C D E F G H I
--------------------------------------------------------------
1065 M ad Aug 17 1165* 1205* 875*
1144 M ad Oct 16 1200 1180 290 232 668 32
1111 M ad Sep 29 1080 1080 279 235 655 32
1132 M ad Oct 16 960 903 225 197 677 30
--------------------------------------------------------------
Average of last 3 1080 1054.3 264.7 221.3 666.7 31.3
[Footnote *: _Antlers in velvet. Unless otherwise specified,
lengths of antlers were measured along the curve._]
==============================================================
MEASUREMENTS OF TESTES
Seasonal change in the size of testes in adult males is indicated by the
following data: June 3, 30×18 mm.; June 18, 51×28.5; August 17, 50×35;
September 29, 61×38; October 16, 60×40. Two male fawns: August 20, 18×7;
September 7, 15×8.5.
_References on measurements._--J. C. Ross, in John Ross,
1835b: xviii; J. A. Allen, 1910: 8; Seton, 1929, +3+: 97;
Sutton and Hamilton, 1932: 87; Flerov, 1934: 240; Murie, 1935:
75; Soper, 1944: 248; Banfield, 1951a: 30.
_References on weight._--Parry, 1824: 305; Richardson, 1829:
241, and 1852: 290; Armstrong, 1857: 475, 498; Baird, 1857: 635;
M'Clintock, 1860?: 184; Osborn, 1865: 227; Schwatka, 1885:
84-85; Collinson, 1889: 153; J. B. Tyrrell, 1892: 128; Whitney,
1896: 237; J. W. Tyrrell, 1908 (1898): 79; Jones, 1899: 329;
Hornaday, 1904: 138, and 1914, +2+: 104; J. A. Allen, 1910: 8;
Seton, 1929, +3+: 97-98; Critchell-Bullock, 1930: 55; Hornby,
1934: 105; Banfield, 1951a: 15, 30.
_Geographical variation_
The comparatively few specimens available indicate that different
populations on the mainland, between Hudson Bay and the Mackenzie River,
vary in size. Final judgment on the significance of this variation must
await the accumulation of more and better material. The lack of
topotypical material from the Fort Enterprise area, Mackenzie, is a
particular handicap.
The extreme and average body measurements of five adult males
from the Windy River area (see accompanying table) may be
compared with those of three adult males, taken by R. M.
Anderson, 1910 and 1912, at Langton and Darnley Bays (Nos.
34431, 34432, and 34435, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.): length, 1980-2095
(2052); tail (two specimens), 152-165 (158.5); height at
shoulder, 1066-1167 (1117); shoulder to hip (one specimen), 964.
The average length of these specimens exceeds that of the Windy
River specimens by 278 mm.; the average height at the shoulder,
by 37 mm. The length of an adult male from Artillery Lake (J. A.
Allen, 1910: 8) exceeds the Windy River average by 156 mm., and
its shoulder height (Seton, 1929, +3+: 97), by 10 mm., but the
length of its hind foot, as recorded, is 17 mm. less than the
Windy River average.
The measurements of four adult females, taken by Anderson, 1910
and 1911, at Langton Bay, Horton River, and Great Bear Lake
(Nos. 34429, 34434, 34441, 34442, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.) are:
length, 1625-1815 (1736); height at shoulder, 825-1066 (968);
shoulder to hip (one specimen), 863. The average length of these
specimens exceeds that of a Windy River adult female by 146 mm.;
the average height at the shoulder, by 98 mm. The length of an
adult female from Aylmer Lake (J. A. Allen, 1910: 8) exceeds
that of the Windy River specimen by 112 mm.; the length of its
hind foot, by 18 mm.; and the height at the shoulder (Seton,
1929, +3+: 97), by 43 mm.
Thus there appears to be a fairly uniform tendency toward greater body
measurements from southwestern Keewatin to northwestern Mackenzie. The
weight of Seton's male from Artillery Lake (270¾ lb.) considerably
exceeds the maximum (200 lb.) that I estimated for any of the Windy
River males. Maximum measurements are furnished by winter specimens from
the region of Langton and Darnley Bays.