The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-02-09
THE CARIBOU BACK.
Exciting News from the Maine Noun
 tai1S

LAClIlH5 NEWS ITOul IIle Md1ll6 MOun-
 tains.
 Hunters from the Mount Kathadin region report that 8 drove of caribou the first seen in Maine in many years, are roaming the slopes of the noun tain. Rumors of the return of the car ibou have been coming in from various parts of northern Maine this fall, and sportsmen are hoping that the reports are true. The caribou deserted Maine about ten years ago, going, Is is sup posed, to Canada-perhaps as far os Labrador Many theories have been advanced in explanation of the migra- tion of these animals, but experts dls- agree as to the cause of their depar- ture. In 1899 law was enacted pro- Vidlng for six years close time on caribou in Maine, and the last legisla- ture extended the time six years, to october 15, 1911.
 The caribou, or American reindeer, roams from the north shore of the Hudson Bay to the coast of Labrador, and as far south as the forty-fifth par allel of latitude on the eastern part of the continent. Some times in moun- talnous sections they will go even fur ther south. They are not as large as their European cousin, and unlike them will not live in captivity. A moose or deer can be easily tanned and become a domestic animal, but the car- ibou is like the partridge, if confined, he dies; if given his liberty he wan ders away. Caribou care little for grass, leaves or browse, on which the moose and deer subslst. They live principally on moss, lichen, rotten wood, toadstools and mushrooms, and the wood-stools and fungus growth on decaying trees. They like hilly, rocky place, and do not remain long in one place unless the ground is broken or uneven.
 They will roam, however, all over level woodland and even go into the fields, but when they have devoured the moss and toadstools they move on in any direction the leaders nose is pointed. Some times they travel alone, and some times in little droves. One old hunter says that the caribou do not like deer and will not stay long where the deer abound In great numbers The deer whip them. The caribou will not fight, and q partfidge with a brood of checks will drive one. They care roth- ing for the deep snow; in fact they like it. as 1t enables them to reach higher up the trees after their favorlte moss.
 They never yard like moose and deer. Their feet are large, the hoofs divided very high. Big claws protrude from behind, thus forming a sort of snow shoe for each foot. As winter ap- breaches the hair grows long and thick and becomes almost white. Their hides are valuable for filling snow shoes, as 1t tightens up instead of bag ging down when 1t becomes wet. The flesh in the opinion of some, is far su- perior to that of the deer or moose It has a wild, gamey flavor of its own that is not found in any other animal, They do not breed as fast as the deer, They have habit of hiding their young when small, and going off and leaving them. Consequently many of them are destroyed by foxes, wildcats and other animals, while a deer will not let her lawn get rod away from her nose until it is able to care for it. self.
 The caribou has great speed and can