66 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE REINDEER.* 



The Reindeer, which differs from all its allies in that the females carry antlers as well as the 

 males, forms so important an element in the social economy of the Laplanders that more has been 

 written on its habits than of any other species of the family. It is found distributed throughout 

 the Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and America, extending farther south in the last-named of these 

 in the same way as the isothermal line of 32 Fahr., as might be expected from the relation 

 borne by its economy to its temperature. In Spitzbergen, Finland, and Lapland it attains the 



KEIXDEEH AT A LAPP ENCAMPMENT. 



greatest size, being inferior in strength and stature in Norway and Sweden. In Iceland it has been 

 introduced and thrives. The Caribou is the name by which it goes in the New "World, where it 

 extends through Greenland, Canada, and Newfoundland. The horns of the American variety differ 

 from those of the Old World so much that it is not difficult to recognise their origin ; nevertheless, 

 attempts which have been made to establish the specific difference of the two forms have not found 

 much favour with natui'alists generally. 



The animal, with a characteristic deer-like form, is powerfully built, with short limbs and heavy 

 neck. The feet have the false hoofs well developed, while the fissure between the median toes is 

 so much extended upwards, and the ligaments which bind them together are so loose, that their 

 hoofs spread out considerably when pressed upon the ground, and so increase the surface for 

 support upon the yielding snow their most frequent foothold. Upon raising the limbs in rapid 

 action these hoofs make a sharp snap at the moment when they close together. 



* Rangifer tarandus. 



