188 Mammalia. 



The Rein-Deer is confined to the glacial countries of both conti-" 

 nents, and is the animal so highly celebrated for the services it 

 renders to the Laplanders, Avho have numerous herds of them 

 Avhlch in the summer they lead to the mountains, and in winter 

 bring back to the plains. They are their only beasts of burden 

 and draught; their flesh and milk serve them for food, their 

 skins for clothing, 8cc. 



C. clama, L., Buff. VI, xxvii and xxviii. (The Fallow-Deer.) 

 Less than the Stag; in winter of a blackish brown, in summer 

 fawn coloured, spotted with white ; the buttocks always white, 

 bordered on each side ^vith a black stripe ; tail longer than the 

 Stag's, black above, Avhite underneath. The horn of the male 

 is round at base, with a pointed antler, and throughout the rest 

 t)f its length flattened, with the outer edge denticulated. After 

 a certain age it shrinks, and splits irregularly into several slips. 

 This species, which is the Platiceros of the ancients, has become 

 very common in all Europe, although it seems to be originally 

 from Barbary.(l) A black variety without spots is sometimes 

 to be found. Those species which have round antlers are more 

 numerous j such as inhabit temperate climates also change their 

 colour, more or less, during the winter. 



C. elaphus, L.; Buff. VI, ix, x, xii. (The Common Stag.) 

 A fawn coloured brown in summer, with a blackish line along 

 the spine, and on each side a range of small light yellow spots ; 

 in winter of a uniform greyish brown ; the crupper and tail 

 always of a pale yellow^ It is a native of the forests of all Eu- 

 rope, and of the temperate parts of Asia. The antlers of the 

 male are round, and appear in the second year, at first simple, 

 and then with tines or branches on their inner face, which in- 

 crease in number as they advance in age, forming a kind of 

 palm with many small points. When very old the Stag be^ 

 comes blackish, and the hairs on the netk lengthen and stand 

 erect. The horns are shed in the spring, the old ones losing 

 them first ; they are reproduced in the summer, during the 

 whole of which period they live separately. When they are 

 grown again, the rutting season commences, at which period 

 the males become furious. Both sexes unite in large herds to 

 pass the winter. The hind carries eight months, and brings 

 forth in May. The fawn is spotted with white. 



C. canadensis, Gm.; C. strongyloceros, Sclireb. 246, A, 247, 

 F, G .; Tfapiti, &c. (The Elk.) A fourth larger than the Elk 



(1) Since the publication of the seconded, of my Oss. Foss., we have received 

 a wild C, dama, killed in the woods to the south of Tunis. 



