ACCOUNT OF THE REIN-DEER. 109 



" It is a mistaken notion that they will not eat grass, or 

 scarcely anything but white moss ; for they will eat every kind 

 of vegetable which this country naturally produces ; alexander 

 (a species of berry) and some few other things excepted: nor 

 have I yet been able to discover that any beast in this coun- 

 try f would eat alexander, except black bears, which are very 

 fond of it. Rein-deer do not seem to relish grass much, yet 

 I have seen mine eat a little, and it generally preferred the 

 coarsest kinds. I have often observed that, in the latter end of 

 April, and in the month of May, the wild ones eat little else 

 besides dry grass and wild rye, which then appear through the 

 snow. They affect great variety in their food, while things are 

 in a growing state ; preferring the youngest and most juicy. 

 This causes them to vary their food every month, and also 

 several times in the same day, accordingly as it is moist or 

 dry ; rejecting now, what an hour ago they preferred to every- 

 thing else. The leaves of the dogberry-bush when young, and 

 a tender plant which grows by hill-sides on moist ground, 

 resembling cross lettuce, as also a succulent aquatic plant 

 which grows in ponds, all these they devour most greedily. 

 There is a small pond near this house which is full of the 

 latter, and this deer of mine has eaten it close down to the 

 water. I think I have seen the same kind of plant in the 

 Highlands of Scotland, and is what they use there in their 

 beer instead of hops. They also delight to eat the young 

 leaves of most sorts of trees and shrubs which have not a re- 

 sinous juice, particularly the willow : but I have known them 

 eat the outer shoots of the black spruce in the winter time, 

 though but sparingly. I most wonder that they are not fond 

 of vetches, which grow in great abundance here. I have 

 often tracked the wild ones through large beds of them, with- 

 out observing that they cropped any ; yet I have seen mine eat 

 a few sometimes. This will eat a little of the crumb of soft 

 bread, but will scarcely touch the crust or biscuit j but that 

 may be owing to the tenderness of its teeth. Pudding and 

 boiled potatoes it is very fond of, but will not eat the latter 

 raw ; it will also eat boiled salt meat. 



" They are very sure-footed, for they will run along shore, 

 over sharp, rough rocks, or smooth, round, loose stones, with- 

 out ever stumbling or slipping ; but on smooth ice they can 

 with difficulty stand. They are beautifully made, are as 

 straight-limbed, and have nearly the same shape as the horse, 

 only not so good a neck. They walk, trot, and gallop in the 

 same manner, and no old hunter will take either a flying or 

 standing leap with more grace or judgement than my young 

 * Labrador. 



