98 



NATURAL HISTOEY. 



its feet. It is gregarious both in the wild and in the 

 domesticated state. So important is this animal to the 

 Laplander, that his wealth is estimated by the number 

 of Reindeer which he has, just as that of the patriarchs 

 of old, and the Arabs of the present time, is estimated 

 by the number of their herds, and flocks, and camels. 

 A Laplander in good circumstances has several hundred, 

 and some have not less than two thousand. The Gadfly 

 and the Mosquito are so annoying to the Reindeer, that 

 the Laplander is obliged to make periodical migrations 

 with his herd to the mountains to escape them. 



167. The Axis Deer, Fig. 82, is a beautiful animaL It 



Fig. 82. The Axis Deer. 



is a native of India. Its horns are slender, and are di- 

 vided quite regularly into three branches. Its usual 

 color is a fawn yellow, with regular white spots, and a 

 black stripe running down the back. 



168. The MoschidaB take their name from that pecul- 

 iarly strong perfume called musk, which is obtained from 

 one of the species. They resemble the Deer family in 



