B:? • CRYPTOGAMIA ALGAL. 



branched from bottom to top, the branches d?- 

 vided and fubdivided, and at laft terminated 

 with two, three, four, or five very fine iliort 

 nodding horns. The ^xilU of the branches are 

 Oitcn perforated. The whole plant is of a hoarV 

 white or grey colour, covered with white farina- 

 ceous particles, light and brittle when dry, fofc 

 and elaftic when nioift. 



The fructifications are very mi.aute, round, fuf- 

 cous, or redd'.di brown tubercles, which grow 

 on the very e:xtrtmities of the finefl branches-, 

 but thtfe tulercles are fcldom found. 



The plant fcems to have no foliaceous ground fof' 

 the bafe, nor fcarcely any vifible roots. 



This is the celebrated tnofs ordain'd by Providence 

 to be the chief fupport of the rhendeer*", and the 

 rhendeer, of a great part of the inhabitants of 

 the polar regions. The Laplander in particular 

 could ill fubuft without the fupplies of this ufe- 

 ful creature : it is to him his whole wealth ; it 

 yields him almoit every nerelTary of life ; it- 

 fcrvcs him inllead of horfes, cows, and lliecp •, 

 the rhendeer affords him milk, butter and 

 cheele, drav/s him in fledges with great fpeed 

 fron^i place to place over the ice and fnow, gives 

 his fiefh for food, his fb.in for cloathing, his 

 tendons for oovz-ftrlngs, and (when Hit) for 

 thread, his horns for glue, and his bones for 

 fpoons. And the almoll only winter food of 



this 



* Synr.pas of QivaJrnpcds, No. 55. 



