The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-02-14

north woods all their lives, say tha
 cows never have horns; others affirm
 mat all cows have horns. Some asSer
 that the majority, other that not nor
 than one in ten, wear these ornaments
 Many veteran hunters say that ther are two species of caribou in Maine anC New Brunswick, in one of which all tn
 cows wear horns. The best authoritie declare that there is only one species O caribou within this territory, and tha
 horns are found upon very small mi nority of the females. Some of the pro vincial guides believe that it is only thu barren cows that grow horns. Anothe much-debated question is as to whethe COW caribou drop their horns each year as the males do. Some assert positively that such is the fact; the best judges as sert that they never shed them, while not a few believe that when a COW that has previously produced no offspring begins to breed. her horns are dropped Arthur Evans, Zionville trapper caught last June in a bear trap a COW caribou that had a perfect set of horns and was accompanied by her lawns.
 Another strange feature of caribou life
 
 equately explained is that when the ami mals are especially numerous in cer- tain district the fecundity of the fe- males is sure to show a marked decline. Perhaps not one COW in every three will be found attended with calves in the ! spring. No doubt the food supply in a given area has an important bearing on this question as well as on the problem of migration.
 Full-groWn caribou not only differ widely in weight, varying from two to four hundred pounds but also in gene ral appearance. The prevailing color of the animal when he has donned his au- tunn coat is a dark fawn inclining to gray and fading to almost pure white on the neck and under parts of the body. Before the snow falls an educated eye is required to distinguish his form on the sombre gray of the barrens. Occasion ally what are known as ''red bulls" are seen, animals of a dull yellowish color and very large in size, distinguished by spindling horns. Some caribou, espec- ially young cows, are almost as graceful as deer, while others resemble an over- grown goat. They possess a variety of facial expression bordering on the gro- tesque, some exhibiting a muzzle arched like that of a Percheron horse others a square, massive nose like that of the domestic COW, and others rcsem- bling the comedy countenance of the Vir- ginia deer.
 The Milcete word for caribou is "me- gah-lip, which means 'snow shoveller. |" In the depth of the Canadian winter herd of Caribou may often be seen pa tiently scraping away with nose and hoof the snow on the barren in order to reach their favorite moss. When the snow lies deep on the barrens they take to the deep woods and rely upon the pendent moss of the juniper, spruce, fir and other trees. The fallen tops to be found in lumber works provide a rare feast for the caribou. When, from the scarcity of food, it is necessary for them to shift their quarters, they adopt the plan peculiar to all members of the cer- vidae in narthern climes-forming in single file and pushing forward through the drifts, the leader of the flying wedge being relieved as he wearies with break ing the road.
 It is impossible to predict what a car- ibou will do upon becoming aware of the presence of man. Sometimes the re- port of a rifle or even the sight of the hunter will cause them no apparent alarm; at other times they will stam- pede at the snapping of a twig. They seem to be dull of sight as we'll as of hearing as compared with the red deer, but to possess a remarkable power of scent Their speed is much superior to that of the moose or deer.
 A Tobique hunter, Alex Ogilvie, was still-hunting drove of caribou in De- cember A drizzling rain was falling, and when he attempted to fire from be- hind a fallen tree the caps of his vene- rable piece failed to connect. He then recapped the gun, but though the caps exploded, they failed to ignite the pow der. At the sound of the caps snap ping the patriarch of the herd walked leisurely up to the log and peered over at the distracted hunter. Then he went off a few yards, where he jumped up and down as if bereft of his senses. A second time he came and looked over the log and actually struck at Ogilvie with his hoof. By this time the entire drove had lined upwithin rod of the log. Ogilvie succeeded in repriming his gun and shot the patriarch at so close a range that the powder burned his hair, whereupon the herd made off like a whirlwind, clattering their hoofs and scattering the snow in clouds behind them.
 Near Nictaux Lake, in October last a guide named Dave Crimmins had a queer experience with caribou. He was along the tote road carrying on his back sheet-iron stove, which kicked up considerable of a racket. he heard a noise and turning about saw that he was followed by big bull caribou. Crimmins had no rifle and at first gave little heed to the animal. When he halted the caribou stood still, but as soon as he resumed his march the l caribou followed shaking his head and | showing a very hostile front This | was several times repeated, | the animal paving up the turf and | shaking his head whenever Crimmins | faced him. The guide tried to scare the I caribou by banging the stove against | the tree, but this only served to increase the animals fury. Then Crimmins be- ! came really alarmed, dropped the stove 10 the ground and jumped behind a tree. | The caribou smelled the stove all over