The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-06-28
SIGNALS OF THE WILD.
How the Caribou Talked and Walked
for Their Observers.

How the Caribou Talked and Walked
for Their Observers.
A gregarious animal has usually
many means of communicating with
its fellows. The well-marked livery
of the species serves it as his uniform
does a soldier-it lets friend and foe
alike know who he is.
Next in Importance, says writer
in Scribner's, is the white flag with
which most deer do their wigwag
signaling. This is his tail, and its
surrounding, the disc. The sudden
elevation of this white tail when dam
ger is sensed conveys at once silent
alarm to the next of its kind. !
Another signal that have not seen
noted by any one else is thus describ-
ed by Mr.. E. A. Preble during his trip
to the Barrens, in 1900. Though the
observation applies to the barren
ground species, l believe it will be
found equally true Of the woodland: Z.
"Soon after leaving our camp on
the morning of August 13 we saw
some barren-ground caribou. A young
buck on point of land was approach
ing as closely as the depth OF the
water would permit-about 200 yards
He showed little fear, trotting along
the shore abreast of our boat for
about a quarter of mile. He would
frequently stop and wade some dis
tance toward the boat, at short inter-
walls spreading and contracting the
white patch on his throat literally In
to an oval disc, so abruptly as to give
the effect of flashes of light. He
finally grew tired of following us and
drifted behind"
What was the caribu doing? Ap-s;
parently signaling to what might be
others of his own kind out on the
water.
The caribou's grunt or bark, as
Professor D. G. Eliot calls it, I have
never heard in state Of nature, but
it is said to be much like that Of the
reindeer and my notes on this are
very full.
"On July 4, 1900, got into herd OF
about 1000 half-wild reindeer. Their
only vocal sound is grunt. This IS
uttered singly or else doubled-that;
is, two are given in rapid succession.
It is sometimes the call Of COW TO
her calf, and sometimes Is uttered Dys
one that is left behind, evidently
note of alarm or inquiry to find out Is
his friends are close at hand"
But the most singular Of the sounds
made by the caribou is the cracking
of the hoof. At each step each foot
gives out a loud, sharp crack.
Persons who have never heard It
in life have no difficulty in explain
ing it. "Of course, the hoofs spread
when they bear the weight ct the
animal" they say, "and when lifted
the hard surfaces spring together
with a crack" But a close observa-
ton shows that the crack is made Dy
some mechanism in foot, and II
"goes off, while the weight is on; II! IT.
It is not always one sharp crack,
but sometimes a crackle like several
sounds close together. Many exaMl-
nations showed that just as the foot
is relieved Of the animals weight, but
before any part is of the ground, the
crack takes place. The hoofs DO NOT
strike together during the stride, ana
the crackle is not heard until the foot
Is placed and the weight is on 1t. Thus
it usually crackles twice at the place
of each track, always once as the
weight Is coming on usually second
time as he is going of. I walked on
hands and knees by the side OF j
reindeer again and again to make oD-
servations, and finally induced one 70
walk while at considerable personI
risk kept my hand on the knucke
Joint of the hind foot. The crack
took place each time with the BEND
ing of the knuckle joint. It was so
violent that it Jared the hand laid
on it. It was deep-seated and on the
level Of the clouts Of back hoofs anu
appeared to- be made by tendons OF
sesamoids slipping over ADJOINING
bones.
The sound Is easily heard % feet
in a wind, and twice as far in sttn
weather. When a herd is moving
along the countless crackles from
their ]noofs make volume OF low,
continuous sounds.
The object If this is doubtless the
same as that of the whistling OF
whistler's wing or the twittering ol
birds migrating by night.
Oldest Woman In the World.
In a refuge for the aged in Madrid
there is now a woman who mas
1..z "a hoinor tho Oldest of her sex