Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1888-12-08
THE WILD CARIBOU.
How This Noble Animal Amuees
Himself and His Mates.

Himself and His Mates.
1t Is as fond of the ice as a school
boy. and fully as ready for frolic says
Harpsr'S Magazine. After the ice has
formed in November. it is socn follow.
ed first by SHOWS. and then by thaws
or rain. The latter converts the snow
into slush, resting on the firm ice be.
meath. Now, any sensible creature
would keep away from such mess.
But not SO with the caribou. for to il
this makes the very gala time of the
year. The herd 90 out upon the ice
in single file then scatter and each one
falls to paving up the slush with his
forefeet. After they have tired of tn S
performance, they fall upon their
knees. and seem to lap the Ice with
their tongues. Why they do this lie, as
far as the writer has been able 10 learn.
a my stery. 1t certa My is not from
thirst, since they have crossed a dozen
open brooks in their morning ramble
perhaps to use one of the slang express
sions so happily indefinite in leaving
I'M bridled liberty of detail to the imag-
ination of tho nearer, "they do it for
granduer." This is the most simple,
and indeed at times is seems the only.
explanation Of many of the vagaries of
this most singular creature. After
awhile one will suspend operations
seem to think tn ngs over generally,
then go gravely over to where another
has mined down 10 piece of ice OF
extra flavor, and prod and poke it with
the utmost vIgor. The assaulted
party rises to its feet and
meekly resigns lis place TO the
intruded, which Immediately drops
upon his knees and continues the OPP
erations of its predecessor, while the
ousted either passes along the compli-
ment by routing out another, or pro-
coeds TO dig new spot for ITSELF
Then perhaps all will lie down for
awhile. and, though one would think
the bed about as congenial as the in
side of an ice-cream freezer, chew the
cud in apparently the acme of bovine
comfort Next one will slowly rise to
its feet, round up its back, and stretch
itself. survey its comrades TO select the
the one which seems most comfortable,
and then, actuated by that perversity
of disposition we so often see and an
alternative in the human early riser,
proceed to stir it up with hoof and
horn, until it, too, gets upon its legs
and joins in the game. Soon all are
on their feet. and falling in one be.
hind the other, move for the woods
in single file, headed by the leader
always bull, though not invariably
the largest in the herd. They move
off at walk. their heads hanging
down precisely like cows driven TO
pasture. Suddenly one will become
possessed of devil, and breaking
from the ranks with hop, skip and a
jump. charge through the line again
and again, until it is thrown into COM
plete disorder. Then 1t Will as sudden
ly fall into place, as demure as a cat,
sa, ing as distinctly as an attitude can
speak: What! you do not mean to
charge this untimely disturbance to
me. do youP" The march is then re-
sumed. and all may disappear at the
meekest kind of walk in the
surrounding forest; or, without the
slightest apparent cause, the herd will
break into n run at pace so keen YOU
almost fancy you can hear them VIII
as they cleave passage through the
air. This burst of speed NAV last for
hundred yards; it may be kept up
through thick and thin for five N les;
the one is about as likely as the other.