Lichenes of New England. 459 
of their winter-quarters in the large Parmelie and 
Sticte.* And Linneus says of Cladonia rangiferina, 
the Rein-deer moss, that “huic Licheni innititur 
economia et salus totius Lapponie,” — the very 
existence of Lapland ; because, he continues, on this 
lichen their herds of deer are sustained throughout 
their whole winter. (Fl. Suec. in loc. ) In his Lap- 
land Tour, Linneus mentions that Cladonia uncialis, 
and the filamentous lichens, are also used for rein- 
deer fodder. ` It is stated that one of the last group, 
a species of Usnea, has been collected in Virginia for 
the winter food of sheep and cows. "The Rein-deer 
moss is also stored as provender for black cattle in 
the North of -Europe ; and Cetraria Islandica is col- 
lected in other countries to fatten cattle. + The rein- 
deer, which exist in Iceland in a wild state, are also 
said by Hooker to feed on the Cetraria Islandica, pre 
ferring, as may be supposed, this lichen to the more 
abundant but less nourishing Rein-deer moss. 
Many lichens have been found edible by man ; and 
the use of Cetraria Islandica is universally known.t 
It is possible that the nutritious part of the Gyropho- 
ræ, various species of which constitute the Rock- 
Tripe, or “ T'ripe de Roche,” of boreal countries, 
may be very similar to the starchy matter which 
* At this season, I have observed with my glass, on many of the 
tree lichens, very minute Acari, some of them beautiful, and resem- 
bling small beetles. 
t Encycl. Edinb. 1. c. 
t The species occurs generally, i in greater or less abundance, on all 
our mountains; and itis found more sparingly on hill-sides and in 
sandy fields throughout New England. 
