20 AMERICAN GAME. 



have any of its peculiarities been noted down, such as 

 the common indications of its stature, antlers, pelage, 

 and color, much less its anatomical and osseous structure, 

 so as to permit of any accurate comparison being drawn, 

 or decision arrived at. 



In proof of the loose way in which these self-styled 

 descriptions of rare animals are draw r n, in books of 

 solemn pretension and supposed authority, I shall pro- 

 ceed to quote the following from the Encyclopaedia 

 Americana a work of which I can only say, that it is 

 equally profuse of needless information on subjects trite 

 to every Sophomore, and sparing of facts, such as require 

 research and are required by men of ordinary reading, 

 who will search its pages vainly for what on occasion 

 they may need to ask it. 



" Reindeer" says the authority. " These animals in- 

 habit the Arctic Islands of Spitzbergen, and the northern 

 extremity of the Old Continent, never having extended, 

 according to Cuvier, to the southward of the Baltic. 

 They have been long domesticated, and their appearance 

 and habits are well described by naturalists. The Amer- 

 ican Reindeer, or Cariboo, are much less generally 

 known ; they have, however, so strong a resemblance to 

 the Lapland deer, that they have always been considered 

 to be the same species, though the fact has never been 

 completely established. The American Indians have 

 never profited by the docility of this animal, to aid them 

 in transporting their families and property, though they 



