ORDER RUMINANTIA. 81 



Rein-deer these horns grow more rapidly, and become 

 larger than in the Swedish. The males drop theirs after 

 the rutting season in November, but the females, if gravid, 

 keep them till May ; under other circumstances, they drop 

 theirs at the same time with the males : the new ones are 

 eight months growing, not being complete till August. 

 The time of copulation is in October ; the bucks groan 

 much the same as Fallow-deer, and at this time spread a 

 strong smell like the male goat : they cover only in the 

 night, and parturition takes place in May. Two fawns are 

 usually produced at a birth, and their life extends to about 

 sixteen years. Camper discovered a membranous sack 

 between the hyoid bone and the tyroid cartilage, commu- 

 nicating with the larynx under the epiglottis. This or- 

 ganization is not found in other Deer, nor is the use of it 

 ascertained. 



Rein-deer swim with great facility, and are so buoyant as 

 to keep half their backs above water ; their broad feet, 

 struck with great force, impel them so fast in the strongest 

 currents and across the broadest rivers, that a boat well 

 manned can scarcely keep pace with them. When defend- 

 ing themselves, they strike downwards with the horns, but 

 do not gore ; they kick with violence, and repel the wolf 

 with success; but their most dangerous enemy is the glut- 

 ton, who is reported to drop down upon them from the 

 branch of some tree while they are off their guard. The 

 feet of the Rein-deer produce the same cracking noise as 

 those of the Elk ; their nictitating membrane is very 

 moveable, and used chiefly in storms of sleet and snow : 

 this habit, together with their scent, guides them with 

 wonderful precision through the most dangerous passes, 

 and in the darkest stormy nights of an artic winter. To 

 this sagacity the Laplander trusts his life with con- 

 fidence, and accidents are of very rare occurrence. To 

 him the Rein-deer afford a satisfactory compensation for 

 all the riches, all the worldly comforts, which his terrible 



