Part 1

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Geographical Note: Lake Nueltin straddles the border between Nunavut and Manitoba. The area covered by the map is in southern Nunavut, in the region now written Kivalliq. "Eskimo Point" is modern Arviat.

The opinions expressed in this book are not necessarily those of the transcriber.]

THE BARREN GROUND CARIBOU OF KEEWATIN

By Francis Harper

University of Kansas Lawrence · Kansas

University of Kansas Museum of Natural History

Editor: E. Raymond Hall

Miscellaneous Publication No. 6, pp. 1-164, 28 figs., 1 map Published October 21, 1955

Means for publication were supplied by: National Science Foundation Wildlife Management Institute American Committee for International Wildlife Protection

Printed in U.S.A.

THE ALLEN PRESS Lawrence, Kansas 1955

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 5

MIGRATIONS 7 Southern limits of winter range 7 Spring migration in the Churchill region 11 Spring migration in the Nueltin Lake region 12 Summer interlude 18 Fall migration in the Nueltin Lake region 18 Retrograde autumnal movement 32 Fall migration in the Churchill region 38

SUMMATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 39

ECOLOGY 41 Habitats 41 Trails 41 Influence of weather on distribution 43 Influence of food supply on distribution 44 Influence of insects on distribution 45 Effect of combined environmental factors on distribution 46 Relations to man 47 Ethnological material from caribou products 59 Relations to Black Bears 62 Relations to foxes 62 Relations to Wolves 63 Relations to birds of prey 67 Relations to miscellaneous animals 69 Relations to flies 69 Ectoparasites 73 Relations to Reindeer 74

NUMERICAL STATUS 78

GENERAL HABITS 79 Daily periods of activity and rest 79 Organization of herds 81 Disposition 83 Senses 86 Gaits 86 Tracks 87 Swimming 88 Shaking off moisture and insects 95 Signaling 96 Food 98 Scatology 99 Voice 100 Reproduction 101 Fawns 103 Growth 104 Antlers 105 Rubbing trees 108

MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY 108 Pelage and molt 108 Albinism 112 Foot-glands 112 Mastology 113 Fat 113 Body measurements and weights 114 Measurements of skulls 115 Measurements of antlers 115 Measurements of testes 115 Geographical variation 116

LITERATURE CITED 120

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES TO Rangifer arcticus arcticus 134

INDEX 161

INTRODUCTION