T H E R A I N - D E E R. 359 



lid has very long, black cilia. It is not perfo- 

 rated, as fome authors have fancied, but entire. 

 The BiJhop of Pontoppidan, and, upon his au- 

 thority, Mr Haller, have attempted to account 

 for this fuppofed perforation : They thought it 

 neceflary, in a country perpetually covered with 

 fnow, to defend the animal's eyes againft the 

 exceflive glare of reflected light. Man, who is 

 deftined to live in all climates, prevents blind- 

 nefs as much as poffible by veils, or fmall per- 

 forated machines, which weaken the fplendour 

 of the light. The rain-deer, who is made for 

 this climate alone, has no occafion for fuch me- 

 chanifm. But he is furnifhed with a nictitating 

 membrane, or an internal eye-lid, like the birds, 

 and fome other quadrupeds. Neither is this 

 membrane perforated : It is capable of cover- 

 ing the whole cornea. 



The nofe of the rain-deer is very large, like 

 that of the cow; and the muzzle is more or lefs 

 flat, and covered with long grayifh hair, which 

 extends to the internal part of the noftril. The 

 lips are likewife covered with hair, except a 

 fmall border, which is blackiih, hard, and very 

 porous. The noftrils are very diflant from each 

 other. The under lip is narrow, and the mouth 

 deep cut, as in the fheep. 



He has eight cutting teeth in the under jaw ; 

 but they are very fmall, and loofely fixed. Like 

 the other ruminating animals, he has no cutting 

 teeth in the upper jaw. But I thought I peiv 



ceived 



