THE RAIN-DEER. 357 



Observations on the Rain-deer, by Profejfor Cam- 

 per oj Croningen. 



The rain-deer Tent to me from Lapland by the 

 way of Dronthcim and Arnfterdam, arrived at 

 Groningen the 21ft day of June 1771. It was 

 very feeble, not only on accounr of the heat of 

 the climate and the fatigue of the voyage, but 

 chiefly from, an ulcer between the fecoud fto- 

 inach and the diaphragm, of which it died the 

 next day. While it lived, it eat, with appetite, 

 grais, bread, and other things prefented to it, 

 and hkewife drank very copioufly. It did not 

 die for want of nourtfhment j for, upon direc- 

 tion, I found all its (lomachs full. Its death was 

 flow, and accompanied with convuliions. 



It was a male of four years old. In all the 

 bones of the &eleton, there were epiphyfes, 

 which proves that it had not yet acquired its 

 full growth, which happens not till five years oi 

 age. Hence this animal may live at leaft twen- 

 ty years. 



The colour of the body was brown, mixed 

 with black, yellow, and white. The hairs on 

 the belly, and particularly on the flanks, were 

 white, and brown at the points, as in other deer. 

 The hair on the limbs was a deep yellow ; and 

 that on the head inclined to black. The hair 

 on the flanks, as well as on the neck and tarealt, 

 v/as long and bufhy. 



Z 3 The 



