88 SPORT IN NORWAY. 



many but long before Caesar's time the reindeer had 

 wandered northwards as far, indeed, as the province of 

 Scania, which was" at that time connected with 

 Germany ; for not only in that province, but in Born- 

 holm, Zealand, and in other places of Denmark, bones 

 and horns have been discovered similar in all respects to 

 those of the animal which is now to be found on the 

 mountains of Norway. 



But it is tolerably clear that the fossil remains just 

 alluded to did not proceed from the Norwegian family. 

 Neither did the German stock extend further north 

 than Scania ; for no traces or fossil remains are found 

 in all the intervening terrain between Scania and the 

 province of Nordland, whilst they are numerous in 

 those districts immediately south of Scania. 



The reindeer, then, must have first invaded Norway 

 by a different route, and at a later period. Indeed, it 

 was not till after the land between the Gulf of Bothnia 

 and the White Sea- had appeared above the surface of 

 the water. 



In remote ages, when the Siberian plains which now 

 border on the Arctic Ocean were still immersed, the 

 reindeer's original home was in the high alps of Central 

 Asia. Simultaneously with the appearance of land 

 above the surface, it is assumed that they began to 

 migrate westwards, keeping to the high lands of 

 Finland, which traverse that country, and which are, 



