214 BELIQUUE 



At the commencement of spring the Reindeer descend from the snowy regions 

 to the subalpine pastures, for the purpose of feeding on the sweet young grass 

 then springing up ; but as soon as the weather becomes warm, they return to the 

 highest fjelds to escape the plague of insects, as they are especially annoyed at 

 this season by a species of Breeze-fly (CEstrus tarandi), which lays its eggs, 

 covered with an adhesive secretion, on the hairs of the Deer's back. The larvae, 

 when hatched, burrow their way beneath the skin, and, as in the case of the 

 CEstrus bovis, which attacks cattle, form a considerable swelling. 



During the heat of summer, the herds resort to the largest " Snee-fonds," or 

 snow-fields, remaining on the snow during the day and descending morning and 

 evening to feed. At this season the old stags separate from the main herd, not 

 rejoining it until their horns are fully developed, which takes place about the 

 beginning of September, when the animals are in their best condition. 



The period of gestation with the female is about eight months ; the fawns are 

 generally produced in May or the beginning of June. In August the fawns have 

 horns from 4 to 9 inches in length, according to sex ; and in November, when they 

 lose the velvet, the antlers measure from 12 to 15 inches. 



Unlike the generality of the deer tribe, the young are not spotted or dappled 

 when first born, but are of a uniform reddish-brown tint. In August this changes 

 to a blackish colour, becoming grey during the winter. In the adult Deer the 

 winter coat is extremely thick, varying in hue from dark brownish red to nearly 

 white. The stags at this season have a mane, or ruff, of white hair on the neck 

 and throat, which in some specimens attains a great length. 



The hoofs of the Reindeer are large and broad, being admirably adapted to 

 support the animal in its passage over soft snow or among slippery rocks. A 

 peculiar clicking noise is heard when the animal is in motion, occasioned by the 

 contraction of the hoof when the foot is raised from the ground, and the conse- 

 quent striking of the two portions of the hoof against each other. In descending 

 precipitous slopes of rock, they obtain increased security of foothold by the use 

 of the spurious hoofs, which, as in the case of the Chamois and other mountain- 

 animals, are capable of considerable holding-power. The hind legs are much 

 longer in proportion to the others than is usually the case among the deer tribe ; 

 and this peculiarity of structure is of great assistance to the animal in traversing 

 rocky ground. 



Although both sexes are furnished with horns, those of the hind (or " simle," 

 as she is called in Norsk) rarely exceed 14 to 18 inches, measured along the 

 curve; while those of the stag, or "ren," reach a much larger size. A pair 



