The Lake County times., 1906-06-25
Observation-Disclosures
nlGRATIONS OF THE GREAT HERcS
or NEWFOUNDLAND.
The Animals Are Strong and Gallant
Swimmers and Take the Water
Like a Wild Fowl - Their Leaps
when Chased by the Gray Wolf

Like a Wild Fowl = Their Leaps
when Chased by the Gray Wolf
The great caribou herds of Ney-
foundland migrate semiannually. ard
no one but an actual witness OF these
migrations can form an adequate con
cepuon 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 4.o00. This crossing
ground is only one OF scores Of similar
trails.
Somewhere about the middle OF Sep
tember the migratory tide sets south
ward. the binds, 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 unmistakable 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 70
the settlements on the south coast,
whereupon the settlers, armed with
fearsome firearms, such as sealers used
some fifty years ago, straightway pro-
ceed to decimate the herds with VOL
leys of buckshot The price OF caribou
venison at such times in the city of St.
Johns has been known to drop to ,
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 nu12-
bers. it is now seldom encountered in
the interior Having formerly existed
in large packs, it is supposed that d
migration must have occurred across
the winter ice foes Of the Belle Isle
strait to the coast of Labrador.
Even such redoubtabie beast Of
prey as the gray wolf could at no time
make certain Of successful foray up
on an animal endowed with such great
speed and endurance as a well grown
caribou A trustworthy old NewfouR2-
land trapper says that he once witness
ed an exciting chase by wolves of a
couple of prickets, or two-year-old cGr-
ibou stays.
Both sides doubtless We're 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 sidesaand 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 occasiona
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 a strong and gallan
: swimmer Each limb is like paddle
! the extended hoof answering to tlf
, blade. In the winter the frog Of thes
enormous hoofs becomes completed,
absorbed, so that its shape grows con
/ cave, while very sharp, shell-like edge
grow we'll out on the margins, assis;
| ing the animal immensely in crossin;
frozen lakes and scaling the steep side
J of slippery rock precipices.
) 1t is an interesting sight to watch tn
: herds taking water with as much un
concern as wild fowls. The enormoU
thickness of their dense coats of hal
doubtless helps to float their bodie
high above the surface, giving a buoy
? ancy almost equal to that of a cor
{ jacket.
t While swimming they rest their III
: derjaws on the water with nostril
: slightly elevated, and carry their whit
l scuts erect. Should they suddenly cate
Whit of wind from the hunter the
give evidence of their excitement b
bounding twice or thrice almost eI
: tirely clear of the water, causing trt
mendous commotion
In their migration they are usual
seen to travel on the leads deer path:
: in single file, the stays, as rule, bring
ing up the rear. The most forward an
alert sentineis of the herds are the ba
rem does. Next come the does wit
fawns, always prepared to give war;
( ing to their indolent consorts. All II
4 savannas Of the interior of Newfoun,
!. land are scored by well defined lead
q which the herds invariably make *
+ and Empire Review.
Eating Fruit.
We have ALWAYS maintained Sa7