522 



THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 



in the woods of northern Siberia, and Von Wrangel 

 confirms this statement. Both tiiese writers inform 

 us that it undertakes extensive and regular migra- 

 tions in Siberia. "Towards the end of May," says 

 Von Wrangel, "the wild Reindeer leaves the woods 

 in large herds, having sought shelter there against 

 the severe cold during the winter; it wends its way 

 towards the northern plains, partly because it finds 

 there on the surface more abundant nourishment of 

 moss, but partly, also, to escape the Gnats and Flies, 

 which abound in such enormous swarms at the com- 

 mencement of spring as to darken the air. The 

 migration in spring is not profitable to the native 



defined, beaten roads. In crossing a river, they 

 select a spot where a firm, stable road from the 

 valley leads to the point of entrance on one bank 

 and a hard sandy bottom facilitates their landing- 

 on the opposite shore. Each separate herd crowds 

 closely together and the whole surface is covered 

 with swimming animals." On the continent of Amer- 

 ica the animals migrate, as do their kin in Siberia, 

 from the mountains to the coast and back. Sir John 

 Franklin says that they leave the lowlands with their 

 young (which have been born there) in July and 

 August; in October they have reached the boundary 

 of the cold tracts of country and seek shelter and 



THE BEINDEEB. The most useful of all species of the Deer family is the Reindeer, which, in the countr.es of the frozen north, is the principal 



draught animal. The tame breed is somewhat deteriorated in size, but the number of the wild species is much diminished on account of the manner in. 

 which they are trapped and domesticated by the natives. The antlers, which are borne by both sexes, grow to great size and branch in a peculiar manner, 

 as shown in the picture. (Rangifer tarandus.) 



tribes; for at that season the animals are lean and 

 quite covered with lumps and wounds from the 

 poisonous stings of insects. In August and Sep- 

 tember, however, when the Reindeer again returns 

 from the plain to the forest, they are sound and 

 well nourished and their venison is palatable and 

 wholesome. In favorable years the herds consist of 

 several thousand in number, which may be resolved 

 into smaller flocks of two and three hundred each, 

 keeping rather close together, however, so that the 

 whole makes up one immense, tolerably compact 

 mass. In their migrations they always travel over 

 the same route, making in their wanderings well- 



sustenance in the forests in winter. As soon as the 

 snow begins to melt on the mountains, they again 

 leave the elevated woodlands and gradually descend 

 to the plains. Packs of Wolves, which seize many a. 

 victim, follow their footsteps, and bands of Indians- 

 lie in wait for them along their established "runs," 

 which the- animals, traverse -with -the greatest regu- 

 larity. . , , . -,^. 



Physical andliHeri-" Th"e Reindeer are admirably adapt- 

 tal Development of ed to inhabit those northern regions, 

 the Reindeer. which in summer are really only one: 

 stretch of morass and in winter only one continuous, 

 snow-field. Their broad hoofs enable them to trav- 



