FOOD. 209 



The rein-deer is possessed of great strength and endurance. 

 His chief power, however, would seem to lie in his hind-legs, 

 which are prodigiously long in proportion to his fore-legs. 

 " I have seen a wild rein-deer," so a friend tells me, " ascend 

 at a gallop the brow of a mountain covered with snow, 

 so steep, that I could scarcely get up, except on my hands 

 and knees." 



The food of the wild rein-deer consists of various kinds of 

 herbs, grasses, and lichens. In the summer he eats several 

 species of Rumex more especially R. digynus and of 

 Ranunculus, amongst which R. glacialis is his favourite 

 food, and in the alpine regions of Western Norway is there- 

 fore called Reinblumma that is, rein-deer flower. He also 

 feeds on the French willow (Epilobium angustifolium, Linn.), 

 on species of Cerastium, as well as tender leaves of the 

 willow and birch tree ; on the common buckbean (Meny- 

 anthes trifoliata, Linn.), and on various species of Equi- 

 setum, &c. In the winter he feeds for the most part on 

 rein-deer moss (Cladonia rangiferina, Ach.) and other 

 lichens. He drinks clear, cold water; but during severe 

 weather, snow serves him as a substitute. 



In the summer time, when he lives much on green food, 

 his dung is more loose ; but in the winter it consists of dry, 

 so-called beans, like those of sheep. 



The chief resorts of the wild rein-deer in the summer time, 

 are the lower ranges of the subalpine regions, where he finds 

 not only good pasturage, but shelter from the heats of noon. 

 But at the opposite season, he ascends the higher ranges 

 of the mountains, where he not only meets with abun- 

 dance of rein-deer moss, and other lichens which at that 



VOL. II. P 



