400 Europe : — a popular Physical Sketch. 



the latter animal is found in a wild state from the southern- 

 most mountain plains in Norway to the most northern 

 extremity of the peninsula, (i.e. from 59° to 70° north lat.) 

 it forms nevertheless the most important domesticated ani- 

 mal of the Laplanders. The great abundance of Reindeer- 

 moss on the table lands, renders it very easy to keep this 

 beast. 



The elk is not found higher than 64° north lat., and is 

 scarce. 



Of wild beasts, are found the bear, the lynx (Loss), the 

 glutton (Vielfrass) the wolf and the fox ; the blue, and the 

 white fox, and the polar bear, are inhabitants of the northern 

 regions. The lemming (Mus lemmus, Pallas) is a kind of 

 mouse, now and then appearing in large herds. 



To the inhabitants of the mountains belong, besides the 

 wild reindeer and the above mentioned beasts of prey, also 

 certain birds as the ptarmigan (Fjeldrypen), the capercallie, 

 and the snow sparrow. Remarkable is the great number of 

 gnats also that appear during the summer months in Lapland 

 and on the southern great mountain plains, by which the 

 inhabitants of the foggy western coasts are less annoyed. 



On the west coast of Norway, particularly in the northlands, 

 where the fishermen congregate at Lofoden by thousands, 

 in the month of February, fish are very plentiful. 



The most important fishes are the * Cablian' (Gadus 

 morrhua, Linne, Morrhua vulgaris, Cv.) the ' Torsk' (Gadus 

 callarias, Brosmiuns, Cv.) the ling, and the herring. Whales 

 visit the coasts. 



The greatest number of the inhabitants of Scandinavia be- 

 long to one principal race — Scandinavians (Norwegians and 

 Swedes). In the northern part are also found ' Laplanders' 

 (Norwegian, Tinner') who belong to a quite distinct race, 

 viz. the polar race ; they are small, well knit, of a yellowish 

 colour, with broad faces, flat noses, and black bristly hair. 

 The southernmost Laplanders are found at Koraas. 



