The Rein- deer. 



161 



THE REIN -DEER, (Cervus Tarandus, or Bangifer 

 Tarandus,) 



Is found in most of the northern regions of Europe, Asia, 

 and America, and its general height is about four feet and 

 a half. The colour is brown above and white beneath ; 

 but as the animal advances in age, it often becomes of a 

 greyish white. The hoofs are long, large, and black. 

 Both sexes are furnished with horns, but those of the 

 male are much the largest. To the Laplanders this 

 animal supplies the place of the horse, the cow, the goat, 

 and the sheep , it is their only wealth. The milk affords 

 them cheese; the flesh, food; the skin, clothing; of the 

 tendons they make bowstrings, and when split, thread ; 

 of the horns, glue ; and of the bones, spoons. During 

 the winter, the Reindeer supplies the want of a horse, 

 and draws sledges with amazing swiftness over the 

 frozen lakes and rivers, or over the snow, which at that 

 time covers the whole country. Innumerable are the 

 uses, the comforts, and advantages which the poor in- 

 habitants of this dreary climate derive from this animal. 

 We cannot sum them up better than in the beautiful 

 language of the poet : 



" Their Rein-deer form their riches. These their tents, 

 Their robes, their beds, and all their homely wealth 



