SCANDINAVIAN REINDEER, 181 



descend from the snowy regions to the sub- Alpine 

 pastures, for the purpose of feeding on the sweet 

 young grass then springing up ; but as soon as the 

 weather becomes warm, they return to the highest 

 fjelds to escape the plague of insects, as they are 

 especially annoyed at this season by a species of 

 breeze-fly (Mstm$ tarandi), which lays its eggs, 

 covered with an adhesive secretion, on the hairs of 

 the Deer's back. The larvae, when hatched, burrow 

 their way beneath the skin, and, as in the case of 

 the sEstrus bovis, which attacks cattle, form a con- 

 siderable swelling. 



During the heat of summer, the herds resort to 

 the largest " snee-fonds," or snow-fields, remaining 

 on the snow during the day and descending morning 

 and evening to feed. At this season the old stags 

 separate from the main herd, not rejoining it until 

 their horns are fully developed, which takes place 

 about the beginning of September, when the animals 

 are in their best condition. 



The period of gestation with the hind is about 

 eight months ; the fawns are generally produced 

 in May or the beginning of June. In August the 

 fawns have horns from 4 to 9 inches in length, 

 according to sex ; and in November, when they lose 

 the velvet, the antlers measure from 12 to 15 inches. 

 Unlike the generality of the Deer tribe, the young 

 are not spotted or dappled when first born, but are 



