The Press., 1906-09-19
THECARIBOUPARADE
VIBRATIONS OF THE GREAT HERDS
OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

The Animals Are strong and Gallant
Swimmers and Take the Water
Like q wild Fowl - Their Leaps
When Chased by the Gray Wolf.
The great caribou herds of New
foundland migrate semiannually, and
no one but an actual witness Of these
migrations can form an adequate con-
ception of the marvellous number of
deer which the island contains.
| 1t is estimated that the number which
crossed the Exploits river at one point
during ten days In the autumn of last
year exceeded 1000. This crossing
ground is only one of scores Of similar
| trails.
Somewhere about the middle Of Sep
TENDER the migratory tide sets south
ward, the kinds, with fawns, forming
the vanguard of the long procession.
The lazy stays hang in the rear until
some storm more severe than ordinary
gives an unmistakabIe earnest of the
| approach Of winter.
Then all alike hurry toward the shell
tered districts in the south, taking
| straight course over bowlder strewn
mountain heights, through tangled and
obdurate masses of timber, across
mountain torrents and immense lakes.
During winters of unusual severity
the animals often draw quite near to
the settlements on the south coast,
whereupon the settlers, armed with
fearsome firearms, such as sealeFS used
some fifty years ago, straightWay pro-
coed to decimate the herds with vol.
legs of buckshot. The price Of caribou
venison at such times In the city Of st.
Johns has been known to drop to 2
cents pound.
The foes Of the caribou other than
man are not numerous. Although the
big gray wolf Is still reported on the
northern plains in considerable num-
bers, it is now seldom encountered in
the interior. Having formerly existed
in large packs, it is supposed that a
migration must have occurred across
the winter ice foes Of the Belle Isle
strait to the coast of Labrador.
Even such a recognizable beast of
prey as the gray wolf could at no time
make certain Of a successful foray up
on an animal endowed with such great
speed and endurance as well grown
caribou. A trustworthy old Newfound-
land trapper says that he once witness
ed an exciting chase by wolves Of
couple Of prickets, or two-year-old car
ibou stays.
Both sides doubtless were going at
their utmost pace. He measured the
bounds Of the caribou and found them
eighteen feet, while the wolves only
cleared fourteen feet so that the carl
bou easily gained on them when close
pressed.
So much ahead were the caribou at
times that they rolled over on their
backs in the snow to cool their painting
and heaving sides and seemed to gath
er new strength and refreshment from
the act.
Another enemy Of the caribou fawns
has of late years quietly replaced the
wolf, the stealthy and bloodthirsty
Lynx canadensis. The island at this
date swarms with these fierce cats.
Antlers are common to both sexes Of
the caribou There are rare occasional
stays with short legs and compact bod
les which never carry antlers and
show no rudimentary growth, and there
also are some few does devoid Of horns.
A Newfoundland guide tells Of seeing
a dozen mature caribou In company,
and only one, a nearly white stag, car
ried antlers.
The caribou Is q strong and gallant
swimmer. Each limb is like a paddle,
the extended hoof answering to the
blade. In the winter the frog of these
enormous hoofs becomes completely
absorbed, so that its shape grows con-
cave, while very sharp, shell-like edges
grow well out on the margins, assist
ing the animal immensely in crossing
frozen lakes and scaling the steep sides
Of slippery rock precipices.
1t is an interesting sight to watch the
herds taking water with as much I'M
concern as wild fowls. The enormous
thickness of their dense coats Of hair
high above the surface, giving buoy
ancy almost equal to that Of d cork
jacket.
While swimming they rest their I'M
derjaws on the water, with nostrils
slightly elevated, and carry their white
scuts erect. Should they suddenly catch
a Whit of wind from the hunter they
give evidence Of their excitement by
bounding twice or thrice almost en-
tirely clear of the water, causing ire
mendous commotion.
In their migration they are usually
seen to travel on the leads deer paths)
In single file, the stays, as a rule, bring
ing up the rear. The most forward and
alert sentinels of the herds are the bar
rem does. Next come the does with
fawns, always prepared to give warn
ing to their indolent consorts. All the
savannas of the interior Of Newfound-
land are scored by well defined leads,
which the herds invariably make for
and f0llow.-Empire Review.