120 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



prove a great obstacle to its progress when it is travelling through 

 the thicker parts of the forest. But by throwing back the head 

 they can be laid upon the neck, so that they are little hindrance. 



The coat, too, of the reindeer is somewhat remarkable, for it is 

 formed upon exactly the same principle as that of a seal. You 

 will remember that the fur of the latter animal is twofold in char- 

 acter, an outer layer of thick, glossy bristles lying upon an inner 

 coating of soft, warm hair. Just the same is the case in the coat of 

 a reindeer, and the animal is thus protected from the keen frosts 

 and biting winds of its northern home. 



The feet of a reindeer are admirably suited to the life which 

 their owner is required to lead. If they were formed like those of 

 other deer, with small, firm hoofs, they would penetrate at almost 

 every step through the frozen snow over which they so frequently 

 have to travel. 



But the ligament or tendon by which the toes are connected 

 is extremely elastic, so that when the foot is placed upon the 

 ground it spreads out, much like that of a camel, and the hoofs do 

 not readily penetrate the frozen snow. When the foot is lifted 

 from the ground, the toes spring together with a curious clattering 

 sound, which is distinctly audible at some little distance. 



THE CAMEL 



The Camel differs widely from the ruminants with which we 

 have become acquainted in the preceding pages. 



In the East, where journeys lasting for several weeks have often 

 to be made through sandy desert wastes, it takes the place which 

 the horse naturally occupies in this country. 



Horses, indeed, would be of little use in the desert. Their 

 small, hard hoofs would sink deeply into the loose sand at every 

 step; and after travelling for a mile or two, they would be unable 

 to go any farther. Grass and water, too, might not be met with 

 for two or three days together, and so they would suffer terribly 

 from hunger and thirst. Thus, it is quite evident that horses 

 would be useless in many parts of the desert. 



