354 ANIMALS OF THE 



Every morning and evening, during the summer, 

 the herdsman returns to the cottage with his deer 

 to be milked, where the women previously have 

 kindled up a smoky fire, which effectually drives 

 off the gnats, and keeps the rein-deer quiet while 

 milking. The female furnishes about a pint, 

 which, though thinner than that of the cow, is 

 nevertheless sweeter and more nourishing. This 

 done, the herdsman drives them back to pasture : 

 he neither folds nor houses them, neither pro- 

 vides for their subsistence during the winter, nor 

 improves their pasture by cultivation. 



Upon the return of the winter, when the gnats 

 and flies are no longer to be feared, the Laplander 

 descends into the lower grounds ; and as there 

 are but few to dispute the possession of that deso- 

 late country, he has an extensive range to feed 

 them in. Their chief, and almost their only food 

 at that time, is the white moss already mentioned, 

 which, from its being fed upon by this animal, 

 obtains the name of the Lichen rangiferinus. 

 This is of two kinds : the woody lichen, which 

 covers almost all the desert parts of the country 

 like snow ; the other is black, and covers the 

 branches of the trees in very great quantities. 

 However unpleasing these may be to the specta- 

 tor, the native esteems them as one of his choicest 

 benefits, and the most indulgent gift of nature. 

 While his fields are clothed with moss, he envies 

 neither the fertility nor the verdure of the more 

 southern landscape : dressed up warmly in his 

 deer-skin clothes, with shoes and gloves of the 

 same materials, he drives his herds along the de- 



