34 THE NATURALIST IN NORWAY. 



obtains the moss by scraping away the snow that 

 covers it with its hoofs and frontal horns. 



The doe brings forth her young in May, and has one 

 or two fawns, and very seldom three. Nature is kind 

 to these young creatures, and enables them to follow 

 their dam a few days after they come into the world. 

 Singularly enough, the buck would kill and devour the 

 fawns if he could get at them, but the doe protects 

 them from his unnatural attacks. One would reason- 

 ably suppose that the reindeer would prefer the low 

 grounds in winter, where they would find protection 

 from the cold winds and tempests ; but such is not the 

 case. In summer they remain in the lower mountain 

 regions, where they are sheltered from the piercing 

 rays of the hot Norwegian sun by high rocks ; they 

 also visit the low grounds at this season of the year to 

 graze on the pastures. In winter they ascend the 

 higher fjelds, because a more plentiful supply of rein- 

 deer moss is to be found there than anywhere else, and 

 because the high winds blow away the snow, and leave 

 bare places on which they can browse. In mountain- 

 climbing they are as expert as the chamois, and can 

 ascend a high fjeld at a gallop. 



In ancient times the most common way of capturing 

 reindeer was by pitfalls, which were generally made on 

 the slopes of the fjelds, and especially in the passages 

 leading through rocks to the mountain lakes ; for the 

 deer fell into the pits when they went to drink. They 

 were also run down on skie. In the present day they 

 are killed in summer by the rifle, and must be stalked. 

 This is a laborious undertaking, for the ground is 

 covered with large stones, which are easily displaced, 

 and roll down with a noise which alarms the deer. In 



