CUDBEAR. 173 



lichen springs up and flourishes, and, after a few years, 

 acquires its full size. 



The Reindeer. 



Here the reindeer are pastured: and whatever may be the 

 depth of the snow during the long winters of that climate, 

 these creatures have the power of penetrating it, and obtain- 

 ing their necessary food, by scraping away the snow with 

 their hoofs. The Laplander also feeds his reindeer upon 

 Jiltdoria and other succulent lichens, which hang in long 

 filaments from the trees, which he cuts down, in order that 

 the reindeer may more easily get at their favorite food, 

 There now remains for me to mention one other use to which 

 the lichens are applied, and that is, dyeing, where the color- 

 ing matter, in which they abound, is employed to great 

 advantage. One genus (Evernia prunastri} was used during 

 the war (instead of gum) in calico printing, but it afterwards 

 fell into disuse, as a very inferior substitute. 



ESTHER. 



r Is not the Cudbear, which is used to color silk stockings, 

 a lichen? 



MRS. F. 

 Yes; Lecanora tartar ea is its botanical appellation. 



FREDERICK. 



But why is it called cudbear? 

 *15 



