LICHENS AS FOOD 



401 



The true reindeer moss is abundant in northern countries, more especially 

 in forest regions 1 and in valleys between the tundra hills which are more or 

 less sheltered from the high winds; it is independent of the substratum and 

 flourishes equally on barren sand and on wet turf; but grows especially well 

 on soil devastated by fire. For long periods it may be covered with snow 

 without injury and the reindeer are accustomed to dig down with horns and 

 hoofs in order to reach their favourite food. Though always considered as 

 peculiarly " reindeer " moss, deer, roebuck and other wild animals, such as 

 Lemming rats 2 , feed on it largely during the winter. In some northern 

 districts it is collected and stored as fodder for domestic cattle ; hot water 



Fig. 128. Cetraria islandica Ach. (S. H., Photo.']. 



is poured over it and it is then mixed with straw and sprinkled with a little 

 salt. Johnson 3 has reported that the richness of the milk yielded by the 

 small cows of Northern Scandinavia is attributed by some to their feeding 

 in great measure on the " reindeer moss." 



When Cladonia rangiferina is scarce, a few other lichens 4 are made use 

 of, Alectoria jubata, a brownish-black filamentous tree-lichen being one of 

 the most frequent substitutes. Stereocaulon paschale, which grows in large 

 dense tufts on the ground in mountainous regions, is also eaten by reindeer 

 and other animals; and Iceland moss, Cetraria islandica, is stored up in 

 large quantities by the Icelanders and used as fodder. Willemet 6 reports it 

 as good for horses, oxen, cows and pigs. 



1 Kihlman 1890. a Linnaeus 1762. 3 Johnson 1861. 



4 Lindsay 1856. 5 Willemet 1787. 



S. L. 26 



