INTRODUCTION Ob' DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 177 



lus, with .small perforations in the axils. It grows to a height of three 

 inches, and the ground looks like one mass of it, so thickly intertwined 

 are the branches. 



The reindeer are never fed nor attended, but take care of them- 

 selves. They reach the moss in the winter by using the horns and feet 

 in scraping away the deep snow. Both sexes have antlers. 



The domesticated reindeer is never as large as those in the wild 

 state. Again, the domesticated reindeer of Siberia is much larger 

 than those of Lapland. 



The reindeer is gregarious — partially migratory — its migrations, 

 however, not being regulated by climate, but l)y the facility of obtain- 

 ing food. 



The chief wealth of the Laplander is the reindeer, and in sunuuer 

 they drive them to the mountains and to the lower tracts in the winter. 

 No store of food is laid by, they being expected to thrive nuich better, 

 as they do, by being permitted to roam in droves and o))tain their own 

 subsistence. 



This moss is capable of being used for human food, and was recom- 

 mended for this purpose in time of scarcity by an edict of Gustavus 

 III. of Sweden. The taste is pleasant, attended with a slight pungency 

 or acridit3\ 



Attempts have been made at different times in Sweden to raise the 

 reindeer on hay, grass, roots, vegetables, grain, etc., but the animal 

 has never thrived. 



Edward D. Winslow. 



Consul- Gencnd. 



Department of State, 



Washmffton, March 2?.^, 1890. 



Sir: Referring to your letter of the ;^d ultimo in regard to the 

 feeding of reindeer in northern Europe, 1 have the honor, by direc- 

 tion of the Secretary of State, to inclose for your information a copy 

 of a dispatch from the consul-general at St. Petersburg. Russia, in 

 which he reports that while reindeer eat moss in winter they prefer 

 grass in summer, and that it is easy to accustom them to eat hay. 

 I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



Thos. W. Cridler, 



Third Assistant Secretary. 

 The Secretary of the Interior. 



Consulate-General of the United States, 



St. Petershurg, March 3, 1899. 

 Sir: In reply to Department dispatch No. 45 of the t>th ultimo, con- 

 cerning the feeding of reindeer, 1 have to state that 1 have been 

 S. Doc. 245 12 



