ORDER ARTIODACTYLA : EVEN -TOED UNGULATES 475 



purposes. In Schrenck's time the Oroks, with their Reindeer, were 

 in the habit of crossing the narrow strait between the island and the 

 mainland each winter on the ice. 



"A very large reindeer exists on the island of Saghalien and is 

 used for ploughing by the Japanese. It is probably of the foregoing 

 sub-species [R. t. phylarchus] , having been imported long ago, as 

 ancient Japanese pictures give representations." (Millais, 1915, 

 p. 223.)] 



Novaya Zemlya Reindeer 



RANGIFER TARANDUS PEARSONI Lydekker 



Rangijer tarandus pearsoni Lydekker, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1902, vol. 2, 



pt. 2, p. 361, 1903. ("Novaia Zemlia.") 

 FIGS.: Pearson, 1899, pi. 14; Lydekker, 1903, p. 362, fig. 77, and 1915, vol. 4, 



p. 245, fig. 41; Flerov, 1933, p. 330, fig. 3. 



This Reindeer has become so greatly reduced in numbers that its 

 status is distinctly precarious. The presence of domesticated Rein- 

 deer aggravates the situation. 



It was originally "distinguished from other Old World forms of 

 Reindeer by the symmetry of the antlers and the excessive palma- 

 tion of both their brow- and bez-tines and their summits" (Lydek- 

 ker, 1903, p. 361). "Coloring in winter very light, almost white. 

 The light rose-brown color is present only on the upper surface of 

 the head and back. This color but lighter is found also on the outer 

 side of the limbs. No trace of a longitudinal dark area is present 

 on the sides of the body. Fur very long, especially on the lower 

 side of the neck." (Flerov, 1933, p. 335.) 



This Reindeer seems to be more or less restricted to Novaya 

 Zemlya. According to Heuglin (1874, p. 35), it occurs commonly 

 in herds in the more southerly parts of this territory. On the North 

 Island its range extends about to Cape Nassau, and occasionally 

 tracks are found farther east. Matotchkin Strait and the southern 

 and southwestern coasts of the South Island are more favored areas, 

 though the animals are much hunted there. It is reported that 

 "Tundra Reindeer" [presumably R. t. sibiricus] occasionally cross 

 Waigatch Island on their way to Novaya Zemlya. 



Pearson writes (1899, pp. 53, 119, 124-125) that Samoyeds are 

 brought to Novaya Zemlya by Russian merchants and left there 

 during the winter to hunt Reindeer and other animals. Each of 

 several Samoyed settlements killed, or was expected to kill, 100 or 

 more Reindeer during the year. "I feel convinced this destruction 

 is considerably in excess of the natural increase, so that reindeer 

 must soon cease to exist in this country" (p. 125) . "The crew of a 

 Norwegian ship, . . . some twenty years ago, had shot over a hun- 

 dred during their short stay" (p. 127) . 



