CHAP. VII. SAMOYEDE DOGS. 67 



appearing. Those chiefly used in the sledges were cut rein- 

 deer (buck), also without horns. Some of the hornless 

 animals leaped right through the lasso and others were 

 caught by the leg. 



The lasso is a cord about one hundred feet long, made of 

 two thongs of reindeer skin plaited together, so as to make 

 a round rope three-eighths of an inch in diameter. The noose 

 is formed by passing the cord through a small piece of bone 

 with two holes in it. The lasso passes freely through the 

 hole, while the end is fastened to a little bone peg with a 

 bone-washer to prevent it slipping through the other hole. 



The dogs were all white except one, which was quite black. 

 They were stiff-built little animals, somewhat like Pomeranian 

 dogs, with fox-like heads and thick . bushy hair ; their tails 

 turned up over the back and curled to one side. This simi- 

 larity between the Pomeranian and Samoyede dogs is a 

 rather curious fact, for Erman mentions a race of people 

 who, he says, resemble the Finns, both in language and 

 features, in a district of Pomerania called Samogitia. inhabited 

 by the Samaites. 



The next morning we turned out of our hammocks at four 

 and strolled in the brilliant sunshine, hoping to meet with 

 some birds; but with the exception of the hooded crows, 

 magpies,* snow-buntings, and redpoles, we met with none 



* The magpie (^Pica rustica, Scop.) 

 appears to be a resident throiTghout 

 Europe and Asia north of the Hima- 

 layas, extending across Behring's Straits 

 to Western America, from Alaska to 



California. In the extreme north it is 

 a partial migrant. In the valley of 

 the Petchora we found it up to lati- 

 tude 67J°. 



