The Barren Ground Caribou of Keewatin Part 12

Another doe, secured on November 3 but not preserved, was apparently in long, full winter pelage, with whitish mane and shoulders. The dorsum generally was grayish; the top of the rump, buffy gray. The white rump-patch appeared to be more extensive, and to contain longer hairs, than in the doe of September 21; likewise the white "spats" appeared much more extensive.

As winter comes on, the fur of the Caribou grows longer and paler gray.

One incipient stage of such a change from the summer coat began to be noticeable as early as September 13. A buck that came trotting down out of the Windy Hills on September 27 revealed the splendor of its new winter coat, with an amazing amount of creamy white, chiefly on the mane and shoulders. The long mane wears off during the winter, according to Charles Schweder. It looks best, he added, when the bucks start to fight in the fall. A yearling or large fawn on October 21 was distinctly creamy about the neck and shoulders. After describing a winter female from Wager River, Seton remarks (1929, +3+: 98): "The general impression is of a creamy white animal, with a gray blanket on its back."

For the first couple of months of its life the fawn wears a soft and woolly coat. An example was furnished by a male fawn (No. 1095; fig. 23) of September 7, which must have been born several weeks later than the average date. It was actually smaller and less developed than another male fawn collected on August 20. It was molting into the next pelage (described in the following paragraph), and its hide was unprime. The general color is Deep Brownish Drab; this is overlaid with longer hairs of Pale Olive-Buff on the median dorsal line of the neck, on the venter, and on part of the legs; a median stripe on the back near Hay's Brown; no distinct lateral stripe; ears and posterior crown Cartridge Buff; forepart of crown Deep Brownish Drab; area above eye Cream-Buff; snout varying from Deep Brownish Drab above to Pale Gull Gray on sides; transverse band behind nostrils Dusky Brown; tip of snout whitish; tail Deep Brownish Drab above, pale creamy on sides, and white beneath; rump-patch whitish; chin anteriorly whitish, posteriorly Dusky Drab; throat whitish to Pale Gull Gray; lower part of legs, in front, Buffy Brown; hoofs black, bordered above with a very narrow (-inch) strip of whitish hairs. A very similar young fawn, taken on August 2, 1907, has been described by Seton (1929, +3+: 98).

In a male fawn (No. 1072) collected on August 20 the general color is between Olive-Brown and Natal Brown; a paler longitudinal area separating the lateral stripe from the dorsal area; ears Clove Brown externally, pale creamy internally; transverse band behind nostrils Blackish Brown; tip of snout whitish; sides of head varying from Cream-Buff above eyes to Cartridge Buff below; tail Bone Brown above, white below; rump-patch whitish; legs Buffy Brown, darker in front; chin anteriorly whitish, posteriorly Hair Brown; throat Cartridge Buff; venter Light Drab; hoofs black, bordered above with a narrow (- to -inch) strip of whitish hairs.

_References._--Franklin, 1823: 240-241; Richardson, 1829: 242; B. R. Ross, 1861: 439; Schwatka, 1885: 60-61; J. B. Tyrrell, 1892: 128; Russell, 1898: 91, 226; J. W. Tyrrell, 1908 (1898): 79; A. J. Stone, 1900: 52; Hanbury, 1904: 194; MacFarlane, 1905: 682-683; Blanchet, 1925: 33, and 1926b: 47; Seton, 1929, +3+: 98-99, 104; Critch.e.l.l-Bullock, 1930: 193; Jacobi, 1931: 236; Sutton and Hamilton, 1932: 81, 84-86; Murie, 1939: 244; Clarke, 1940: 89, 90; Downes, 1943: 226; Manning, 1943a: 53; Harper, 1949: 228, 229, 230; Banfield, 1951a: 15-17.

_Albinism_

In _Rangifer arcticus arcticus_ this appears to be an exceptionally rare phenomenon. There are references to albinos by the following authors: Russell (1895: 51; 1898: 91, 226), Whitney (1896: 237), Boas (1901: 150, 501), MacFarlane (1905: 682-683), Ingstad (1933: 312), and Degerbl (1935: 49, 51).

_Foot-glands_

I dissected out the glands from the hind feet of an adult male Caribou (No. 1046). Seton (1929, +3+: 68) has discussed these structures in the Woodland Caribou and the Norwegian Reindeer; and Poc.o.c.k (1911: 960-962, fig. 138B) and Jacobi (1931: 22, fig. 4), in the Reindeer. Many hairs had their base in the glands, and there was a fatty secretion on the hairs adjacent to the glands. I judged that the opening to the exterior extended in a more or less dorso-anterior direction. One of the suggested functions of these glands is anointing the velvet covering of the antlers. I was highly interested, therefore, in seeing an old buck on June 16 rub the tips of its growing antlers with each hind foot in turn. Meanwhile it inclined its antlers alternately to one side and backwards to place one of them at a time within convenient reach of the hind foot on that side. It seemed to rub its snout as well as the antler tips. In Charles Schweder's experience this action was always carried out with the hind foot, not the forefoot. The latter contains a similar but smaller gland, according to Jacobi (1931: 22), while Poc.o.c.k (1911: 960-961) gives contrary testimony. On August 27 I also saw a fawn rubbing a k.n.o.b of its skin-covered antlers with a hind foot.

Another function of the foot-glands is suggested by an observation of Dugmore's (1913: 89-90), which has been mentioned in the section on _Signaling_. I could not definitely connect any of the various occasions of panic that I observed, with scent from the foot-glands of preceding Caribou that had been frightened.

_References._--Caton, 1881: 265; Poc.o.c.k, 1911: 960-962; Seton, 1929, +3+: 68, 105; Sutton and Hamilton, 1932: 84; Harper, 1949: 230.

_Mastology_

Very little seems to have been published on this subject. Jacobi (1931: 24) merely remarks that in the Reindeer the mammae number four, or occasionally six, but that the supernumerary ones are not functional.

The four rudimentary mammae in a male fawn of _arcticus_ (No. 1072) of August 20 seemed remarkable for their arrangement in a nearly straight transverse row--quite different from the more rectangular pattern in a domestic Cow or in a male Moose, as figured by Seton (1929, +3+: 221).

In an adult doe (No. 1101) of September 21 the anterior pair are about twice as far apart as the posterior pair; each of the mammae appears no more than a couple of inches from the one nearest to it. The arrangement in a two-year-old buck, as shown by Seton (1929, +3+: 106), is approximately intermediate between linear and rectangular.

_Fat_

A Caribou (probably a buck) secured about the end of June was reported to have back fat half an inch thick--possibly resulting from the fresh green spring feed. In August, however, scarcely any fat was to be found on the animals; perhaps the annual renewal of pelage and the summer hara.s.sment by flies had been deterrents to the storage of fat. In September and early October the Caribou were in prime condition. On September 19 there was a fresh piece of back fat half an inch thick; two days later there was another piece three times as thick. In 1943 (a year of great mushroom growth) the animals were said to have become particularly fat. According to Charles Schweder, the doe never becomes so fat as the buck; one of September 21, still nursing, was just slightly fat. An adult buck of September 29 was recorded as "somewhat fat"; two of October 16 were "rather fat" and "quite fat." Charles has seen as much as 3 inches of fat on a buck. The strips of back fat brought into camp on October 8 from several bucks weighed about 5 to 10 lb. apiece. Such fatness evidently prepares the bucks for the strain of the rutting season, when they neglect their feeding and become very poor and thin. This loss of fat occurs in about two weeks. The does also lose some fat at this season, but slowly. In some winters the Caribou remain fat, but in other winters they do not. In the latter case there may be deep snow that hinders their feeding. In the spring the Caribou become fat again, and they are in that condition when they arrive from the south in May.

The eagerness of the Eskimos and the Indians for fat results in their selection of the biggest bucks, which generally carry the most fat.

Charles Schweder spoke of the tail of such an animal almost disappearing, apparently engulfed in fat! Besides its use in the native diet, the fat goes into the making of "Eskimo candles" (see section on _Relations to man_).

_References._--Franklin, 1823: 240; Armstrong, 1857: 477-478; Whitney, 1896: 161; Elliot, 1902: 276; R. M. Anderson, in Stefansson, 1913b: 505-506; Stefansson, 1921: 231-234, 246-247, 252; Jenness, 1922: 48, 101, 248; Birket-Smith, 1929 (1): 48, 90; Seton, 1929, +3+: 113-114; Critch.e.l.l-Bullock, 1930: 193; Weyer, 1932: 40; Hornby, 1934: 105; Hamilton, 1939: 109; Downes, 1943: 228; Manning, 1943a: 53.

BODY-MEASUREMENTS AND WEIGHTS

Columns:

A: No.

B: s.e.x and age C: Date D: Length E: Tail F: Foot G: Ear from crown H: Height at shoulder I: Shoulder joint to hip joint J: Circ.u.mference of neck at base K: Circ.u.mference of body behind shoulders L: Length of front hoof M: Length of hind hoof N: Estimated weight (lbs.)

====================================================================== A B C D E F G H I J K L M N ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1033 ? ad Jun 3 1820 160 516 130 1000 1000 81.5 78 140 1046 ? ad Jun 18 1880 190 546 137 1029 92 84.5 1065 ? ad Aug 17 1750 146 555 120 1080 1010 1185* 80 74 200 1111 ? ad Sep 29 1710 155 532 129 1020 740 82.5 78 200 1132 ? ad Oct 16 1710 120 530 120 1002 975 200 1144 ? ad Oct 16 117 545 120 1110 90 84.5 200 Average of ? ? ad 1774 148 537 126 1080 995 740 1093 85.2 79.8 188 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1101 ? ad Sep 21 1590 113 490 134 870 860 490 77 72 160 1095 ? juv Sep 7 960 90 360 85 620 525 290 610 49 45 35 1072 ? juv Aug 20 1150 125 423 89 750 645 60.5 55.5 50

[Footnote *: _After skinning._]

MEASUREMENTS OF SKULLS

Columns:

A: No.

B: s.e.x and age C: Date D: Condylobasal length*

E: Zygomatic width F: Interorbital width G: Length of nasal H: Maxillary tooth-row I: Mandibular tooth-row

====================================================================== A B C D E F G H I ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1065 ? ad Aug 17 373 130 140 125 94 101 1144 ? ad Oct 16 356 135 140 122 82 1111 ? ad Sep 29 359 134 138 112 82 1046 ? ad Jun 18 374 131 135 121 97 104 1132 ? ad Oct 16 350 136 138 117 83 91 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Average of ? ? ad 362.4 133.2 138.2 119.4 87.6 98.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1101 ? ad Sep 21 324 117 121 101 85 1036 ? ad Sep -- 118 120 83.5 79 83.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1072 ? juv Aug 20 215 92 85 54 1095 ? juv Sep 7 189 85 77 42

[Footnote *: _Tip of premaxillary to posterior plane of condyles._]

MEASUREMENTS OF ANTLERS

Columns:

A: No.

B: s.e.x and age C: Date D: Total length, right antler E: Total length, left antler F: Brow antler, length G: Brow antler, width H: Greatest spread of beams (outside measurement) I: Total number of points

============================================================== A B C D E F G H I -------------------------------------------------------------- 1065 ? ad Aug 17 1165* 1205* 875*

1144 ? ad Oct 16 1200 1180 290 232 668 32 1111 ? ad Sep 29 1080 1080 279 235 655 32 1132 ? ad Oct 16 960 903 225 197 677 30 -------------------------------------------------------------- Average of last 3 1080 1054.3 264.7 221.3 666.7 31.3

[Footnote *: _Antlers in velvet. Unless otherwise specified, lengths of antlers were measured along the curve._]

MEASUREMENTS OF TESTES

Seasonal change in the size of testes in adult males is indicated by the following data: June 3, 3018 mm.; June 18, 5128.5; August 17, 5035; September 29, 6138; October 16, 6040. Two male fawns: August 20, 187; September 7, 158.5.

_References on measurements._--J. C. Ross, in John Ross, 1835b: xviii; J. A. Allen, 1910: 8; Seton, 1929, +3+: 97; Sutton and Hamilton, 1932: 87; Flerov, 1934: 240; Murie, 1935: 75; Soper, 1944: 248; Banfield, 1951a: 30.

_References on weight._--Parry, 1824: 305; Richardson, 1829: 241, and 1852: 290; Armstrong, 1857: 475, 498; Baird, 1857: 635; M'Clintock, 1860?: 184; Osborn, 1865: 227; Schwatka, 1885: 84-85; Collinson, 1889: 153; J. B. Tyrrell, 1892: 128; Whitney, 1896: 237; J. W. Tyrrell, 1908 (1898): 79; Jones, 1899: 329; Hornaday, 1904: 138, and 1914, +2+: 104; J. A. Allen, 1910: 8; Seton, 1929, +3+: 97-98; Critch.e.l.l-Bullock, 1930: 55; Hornby, 1934: 105; Banfield, 1951a: 15, 30.

_Geographical variation_

The comparatively few specimens available indicate that different populations on the mainland, between Hudson Bay and the Mackenzie River, vary in size. Final judgment on the significance of this variation must await the acc.u.mulation of more and better material. The lack of topotypical material from the Fort Enterprise area, Mackenzie, is a particular handicap.

The extreme and average body measurements of five adult males from the Windy River area (see accompanying table) may be compared with those of three adult males, taken by R. M.

Anderson, 1910 and 1912, at Langton and Darnley Bays (Nos.

34431, 34432, and 34435, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.): length, 1980-2095 (2052); tail (two specimens), 152-165 (158.5); height at shoulder, 1066-1167 (1117); shoulder to hip (one specimen), 964.