I^g CRYFTOGAMIA ALGife. 



branched from bottom to top, the branchd di- 

 vided and fubdivided, and at lafl: terminated 

 with two, three, four, or five very fine fhort 

 nodding horns. The axilU of the branches arc 

 often perforated. The whole plant is of a hoarj 

 white or grey colour, covered with white farina- 

 ceous particles, light and brittle when dry, foft 

 and elaftic when moift. 



The friiflifications are very minute, round, fuf- 

 cous, or reddifh brown tubercles, which groW 

 on the very extremities of the fineft branches; 

 but thefe tul erclcs arc feldom found. 



The plant fecms to have no foliaceous ground fof 

 the bale, nor fcarcely any vifible roots. 



This is the celebrated mofs ordain'd by Providence 

 to be the chief fupport of the rhendeer*, and the^ 

 rhendeer, of a great part of the inhabitants of j 

 the polar regions. The Laplander in particular 

 could ill fubfift without the fupplies of this ufi> 

 ful creature: it is to him his whole wealth; ilf 

 yields him almoil every necelTary of life v it 

 fcrves him inilead of horfes, cows, and fhecp? 

 the rhendeer affords him milk, butter and 

 cheefe, draws him m fledges with great fpeed 

 from, place to place over the ice and fnow, gives 

 his flefh for food, his f^in for cloathing, his 

 tendons for bow-ftrings, and (when flit) for 

 thread, his horns for glue, and his bones 'for 

 fpoonS. And the almoft only winter i^od of 



» SynopfiB of Qiiadrupeds, No. 36. 



