242 FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



the semi-circle, and at a given signal, raised a shout which 

 startled the elks in their layer. These attempted to break 

 the cordon, but startled by the firing of rifles they turned 

 and made for the marsh ; seven were young, and crossed 

 it in safety ; two large elks, a male and a female, making 

 the attempt, broke the ice, and floundring, found them- 

 selves unable to make their escape. The sportsmen came 

 up to within ten feet, fired, killed them, and went home, 

 when they sent a cart or sledge for the carcases. The 

 elk is known in Russia as olene. 



To the same family belongs the reindeer (cervus turandus) 

 so extensively domesticated in Lapland as to be intimately 

 associated with our every conception of the Laplanders, 

 but found in a wild state both in Northern Russia and in 

 Finland, to *he north of 65 30', and on the northern 

 slopes of the Maanselka. 



In the Eastern Hemisphere the isothermal line of 

 descends towards the 55th parallel of latitude, which is 

 lower than it does in America. But there are some 

 important towns situated to the north of this latitude 

 Tobolsk, lat, 58 11'; Jokutsk, lat. 58 16' ; and Yakutsk, 

 lat. 62. In Europe the only Arctic lands properly so 

 called, and distinguished by an Arctic flora, are Russian 

 Lapland and the deeply-indented coast of Northern 

 Russia, and the former is what may be considered the 

 habitat of the reindeer. But during several winters they 

 have been seen in St. Petersburg, brought thither as 

 curiosities, and attracting attention as they were driven 

 along the Neva by the Lappish owners in their national 

 sledges. 



In the regions of the reindeer, in Lapland and in 

 Siberia, as in Labrador and the northern coasts of America, 

 the lemming also is met with. 



SECTION II. BIRDS. 



Of birds we find in Northern Russia those which are 

 common to different lands in such latitudes, together with 



