TTTE AMERICAN REINDEKR. 



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Scotiii or Now Ihiinswick, ns I luivc seen tliora, pjmrc. 

 fully trotting over the plains on li_Li;lit aiiow, and in Indian 

 till', or, when alarmed, eireling round the; hunter Avitli 

 neck and head braced u[) and seat erect, 8te])ping with 

 an astonishing elasticity and spring, is a noble creature 

 in comparison with the specimens of the reindeer of 

 Nortluirn Europe that liave ajipeared in the Society's 

 gardens at Regent's Park : tliey are, nevertheless, in- 

 (Uibitably the same species and simply local varia- 

 tions. 



The colour of the American caril)oo, as described by 

 Audubon and Bachmaii, is as follows : — • 



" Tii)s of hairs light dun gray, whiter on the neck than 

 elsewhere ; nose, cars, outer surface of legs and shoulders 

 brownish. Neck and throat dull white ; a faint whitisli 

 patch on the side of shoulders. Belly and tail white ; a 

 band of white around all tlie legs adjoining the hoofs." 

 From this general description there is, however, consider- 

 able variation. Bucks in their prime are often of a rich, 

 rufous-brown hue on the back and legs, having the neck 

 and pendant mane, tail and rump, snow-white. A patch 

 of (hirk hair, nearly black, appears on the side of the 

 muzzle and cheek. As the hair grows in length, towards 

 the approach of winter, it lightens considerably in hue : 

 individuals may frequently be si'en in a herd with coats 

 of the palest fawn colour, almost white. Young deer are 

 dai>[>led on the side and flank with light sandy spots. 

 The white mane, reaching to over a foot in length in old 

 males, which hangs pendant from the neck with a graceful 



oik; of the handsomest of luiiinals ; for wlu'ii one sees a Timi^u/e ait, with 

 tlie proudest (h'portnient, ou his rein(h'er, they hoth seem made foi' each 

 other, and it is hard to dccicUi whether the reindeer lends grace to the jiiler 

 or luirroWB it from ]nui." — Tmrck in l^ihiria, by Adoljili Erinaii. 



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