The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-26
THE CARIBOU on ICE.
Ho-T This Humorous Animal Amuees Hin
self IN Winter.


After the ice has formed In November
It is soon followed FIRST by SHOWS, and
then by thaws or rain. The latter con-
verts the snow into slush resting on the
firm ice beneath Sow, any sensible
creature would keep away from such
mess. But not so the caribou. for TO IL
this makes the very gala time Of tho year.
The herd 90 out upon the ice in single
file. then scatter, and each one falls TO
paving up the slush with its fore feet.
After they have tired Of this performance
they fall upon their knees. and seem 70
lap the ice with their tongues. Why they
do this is, cs far as the writer has been
able TO learn. mystery. II certainly is
not thirst, since they have crossed dozen
open brooks in their morning ramble.
Perhaps, to use one Of those slang cx-
pressions 50 happily indefinite in leaving
unbridled liberty Of detail TO the imagina-
tion Of the nearer, they do it for
grandeur" This is the most simple, and
indeed AT times il seems the only expiana-
ton Of many Of the vagaries Of this most
singular creature
After a whilo one will suspend opera
tons, seem 10 think things over generally,
then 70 gravely over to where another
has mined down TO piece Of ice Of extra
favor and prod and poke it with the ut
most vig0T. The assaulted party rises 10
its feet and meekly resigns IFS place TO the
intruder which Immediately drops upon
its knees and continues the operations OF
its predecessor, whilc the ousted either
passes along the compliment BY routing
out another or proceeds to dig q new spot
for itself Then perhaps all will lie
down for while, and though one would
think the bed about as congenial as the
inside Of an ice cream freezer, chew the
cud in apparently the acre Of bovine com
fort. Next, one will slowly rise 10 its
feet, round up its back aud stretch itself,
survey its comrades TO select the one
which seems most comfortable. and then.
actuated by that perversity of disposition
we so often see and anathematize in the
human early riser, proceed 70 stir il up
with hoof and horn, until IL too gets upon
its legs and joins in the game.
Soon all are OH their feet. and, falling
in one behind tho other, move for the
woods in single file, headed by tho leader
always a bull, though not invariably
the largest in tho herd They move of
st Il walk, their heads hanging down pre-
cisely like COWS driven 70 pasture. Sud
denly one will become possessed Of q
devil. and, breaking from the ranks with
a hop, skip and jump, charge through the
line again and again, until II is thrown
into complete disorder Then it will as
suddenly fail into place, as demurc IS a
cat, saying, as distinctly as an attitude
can speak, WHAT you do not mean TO
charge this untimely disturbance TO me,
do YOU" The march is then resumed and
oil may disappear at tie meekest kind Of
a walk in the suirodndiDg forest; or,
without tho slightest apparent cause, the
herd will break into a run at pace 50
keen you almost fancy yon can heartbem
whiz as they cleave a passage through the
air This burst of speed may last for a
hundred yards; it may be kept up through
thick and thin for five miles; the ono is
about as likely as the other.-Harpers
Magazine.