The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-13
THE GREAT CARIBOU HERDS.
Twice . Year They Troop Across New.
foundland by Thousands.

Twice . Year They Troop Across New
foundland by Thousands.
The great caribou herds Of Newfoundland
migrate ~semi-annually, and no one but an
actual witness Of these migrations can form
any adequate conception OF the marvellous
number Of deer which the island contains.
II Is estimated, says the En- 1ire Review.
that the number which creased the Exploits
River at n point during ten days In the
autumn Of last year exoeeded four thousand,
This crossing ground b. only ons OF soores
OF similar trails.
Somewhere about the middle Of Scptem-
Der the migratory tide sets southwark, the
kinds with fawns forming the vanguard OF
the long procession. The lazy stags bang
on the rear until some storm moro severe
than ordinary gives an unmistakable earness
OF the apprc ach Of winter. =
Then all alike hurry toward the sheltered
districts In the south. taking q straight
course, over boulder strewu mountain
heights, through tangled and obdurate
masses Of timber. ACROSS mountain torrents
and immense lakes.
During winters Of unusual severity tho
animals often draw quite near 10 the settle.
ments on the south coast; whereupon tho
settlers, armed with fearsome firearms,
such a. sealers used some fifty years ago!
straightway proceed.to .decimate the herds
with volleys OF buckshot. Tho price OF
caribou venlson at such times In the city Of
st. Johns has been known 10 drop 10, two
cents q pound. !
The foes Of the caribou other than man
are not numerous. Although tho big gray
wolf is still reported on the northern plains
in considerable numbers, 1t IL now seldom
enoe untered In. the interior. Having for.
that q migration must have occurred across
the winter ice foes Of the Relle Isle Strait
to the coast Of Labrador.
Even such q redoubtable beast Of prey "a
the gray wolf could at NO time make certain
lowed with such ereatepeedand endurance
as a well grown caribou. A Trustworthy
old Newfo midland trapper says that be
once witnessed an exciting chase by wolves
Of a couple Of prickets, or two-yesr-old
caribou 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, ~
that the caribou 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 gather now strength and 10
freshment from the act.
Another enemy TO the caribou fawns
the stealthy and bloodthirsty Lynn canaden,
sis. The island at this date fairly swarms
with these fierce oats.
Antlers are common to both SEXES Of the
caribou. There are rare occasional stays
with short legs AND compact bodies which
tary growth, and there also are some few
does devoid Of horns. A Newfoundland
guide tells Of. seeing Q d zen mature caribou
In company, and only one, q nearly white
stag, carried antlers.
mer. Each limb is like q paddle. the eI-
tended hoof answering to the blade, In the
winter the frog OF these hooft pe-
comes completely absorbed, 80 that Ns
shape grows %ooncave, while very. sharp
gins, assisting th, 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 unconoern
Of their dense coats Of hair doubtless helps
to float their bodies high above the surface,
giving a bu oyancy almost equal to that OF"
cork jacket.
While swimming they rest their under
jaws on the water, with nostrils slightly
elevated, and carry their white scuts erect,
Should they suddenly catch a Whit OF VINO
from the hunter they give evidence II Their
excitement by bounding twice or thrice
almost entirely clear Of the water, causing
a tremendous commotion,
In their migration they are usually seen
to travel on the leads tdeer paths IN single
file, the stays, as a rule. bringing up the rear
The most forward and alert s%entinels of the
herds are the barren does: next come The
does with fawns, always prepared to CIV,
WARNING In THAR ttpAnlant Dnnaprtg All
the Of the interior OF Newfound'
land are scored by we'll defined leads, which
the herds invariably mako for and follow