166 



VERTEBRATES. 



growing to the height of our largest oxen. It inhabits Canada anj 

 other parts of North America, and has been confounded with the 

 Moose. Its horns are very large, measuring nearly six feet from 

 tip to tip. It is very fierce, and boldly attacks an antagonist. 



The Axis is of the small number of ruminating animals 

 which wear horns, like the stag. It has the shape and swiftness 

 of the fallow-deer ; but what distinguishes it from the stag and 

 fallow-deer is, that its body is marked with white spots, elegantly 

 disposed, and separated one from another, and that it is a native 

 of hot countries (Hindostan, and particularly Bengal) ; while the 

 stag and deer have their coat of a uniform color, and are to be met 

 with in greater numbers, in cold countries and temperate regions, 

 than in hot climates. 



The Rein-Deer forms the sole riches of the Laplander, 



and its care is almost his 

 only occupation. Accord- 

 ing to the season, he mi- 

 grates to the sea shore, the 

 plains, or the mountains. 

 The rich often possess 2000 

 head; and the poorer sel- 

 dom less than 100. The 

 adult male, in a wild state, 

 is even larger than a stag ; 

 but the domesticated races . 

 are somewhat smaller ; the sight and scent of these creatures are 

 astonishing, and guide them with wonderful precision through the 

 most dangerous passes, and in the darkest stormy nights of an 

 Arctic winter. To this sagacity the Laplander trusts his life with 

 the greatest confidence ; and accidents rarely happen : they draw 

 his sledge with such amazing rapidity, that in twenty-four hours a 

 pair of Eein-deer have been said to perform a journey of 100 

 miles. In a wild state they are gregarious; and, when domesti- 

 cated, evince an excessive attachment to each other. During 

 summer they are much tormented by a species of gad-fly; but the 

 old account of the glutton falling upon them from a tree, and then 



The Kein-Deer. 



