Part 19

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; Pocock, 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 harassment 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 Stefánsson, 1913b: 505-506; Stefánsson, 1921: 231-234, 246-247, 252; Jenness, 1922: 48, 101, 248; Birket-Smith, 1929 (1): 48, 90; Seton, 1929, +3+: 113-114; Critchell-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: Sex 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: Circumference of neck at base K: Circumference 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 M ad Jun 3 1820 160 516 130 1000 1000 81.5 78 140 1046 M ad Jun 18 1880 190 546 137 1029 92 84.5 1065 M ad Aug 17 1750 146 555 120 1080 1010 1185* 80 74 200 1111 M ad Sep 29 1710 155 532 129 1020 740 82.5 78 200 1132 M ad Oct 16 1710 120 530 120 1002 975 200 1144 M ad Oct 16 117 545 120 1110 90 84.5 200 Average of M M ad 1774 148 537 126 1080 995 740 1093 85.2 79.8 188 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1101 F ad Sep 21 1590 113 490 134 870 860 490 77 72 160 1095 M juv Sep 7 960 90 360 85 620 525 290 610 49 45 35 1072 M juv Aug 20 1150 125 423 89 750 645 60.5 55.5 50

MEASUREMENTS OF SKULLS

Columns:

A: No. B: Sex 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 M ad Aug 17 373 130 140 125 94 101 1144 M ad Oct 16 356 135 140 122 82 1111 M ad Sep 29 359 134 138 112 82 1046 M ad Jun 18 374 131 135 121 97 104 1132 M ad Oct 16 350 136 138 117 83 91 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Average of M M ad 362.4 133.2 138.2 119.4 87.6 98.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1101 F ad Sep 21 324 117 121 101 85 1036 F ad Sep -- 118 120 83.5 79 83.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1072 M juv Aug 20 215 92 85 54 1095 M juv Sep 7 189 85 77 42

MEASUREMENTS OF ANTLERS

Columns:

A: No. B: Sex 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 M ad Aug 17 1165* 1205* 875* 1144 M ad Oct 16 1200 1180 290 232 668 32 1111 M ad Sep 29 1080 1080 279 235 655 32 1132 M ad Oct 16 960 903 225 197 677 30 -------------------------------------------------------------- Average of last 3 1080 1054.3 264.7 221.3 666.7 31.3

MEASUREMENTS OF TESTES

Seasonal change in the size of testes in adult males is indicated by the following data: June 3, 30×18 mm.; June 18, 51×28.5; August 17, 50×35; September 29, 61×38; October 16, 60×40. Two male fawns: August 20, 18×7; September 7, 15×8.5.

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; Critchell-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 accumulation 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. The average length of these specimens exceeds that of the Windy River specimens by 278 mm.; the average height at the shoulder, by 37 mm. The length of an adult male from Artillery Lake (J. A. Allen, 1910: 8) exceeds the Windy River average by 156 mm., and its shoulder height (Seton, 1929, +3+: 97), by 10 mm., but the length of its hind foot, as recorded, is 17 mm. less than the Windy River average.

The measurements of four adult females, taken by Anderson, 1910 and 1911, at Langton Bay, Horton River, and Great Bear Lake (Nos. 34429, 34434, 34441, 34442, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.) are: length, 1625-1815 (1736); height at shoulder, 825-1066 (968); shoulder to hip (one specimen), 863. The average length of these specimens exceeds that of a Windy River adult female by 146 mm.; the average height at the shoulder, by 98 mm. The length of an adult female from Aylmer Lake (J. A. Allen, 1910: 8) exceeds that of the Windy River specimen by 112 mm.; the length of its hind foot, by 18 mm.; and the height at the shoulder (Seton, 1929, +3+: 97), by 43 mm.