445 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE REINDEEE (TARANDUS RANGIFER). 



Ceetain qualities possessed by the reindeer make it the most 

 important of all the species of deer, for it is the only one which 

 has been thoroughly domesticated and employed by man. It has 

 a somewhat similar range to the elk, but extends into the countries 

 still more northerly. Murray describes it as inhabiting the whole 

 of the boreal regions of the northern hemisphere. Its southern 

 limit is very nearly the isothermal line of 32° Tahr., more 

 frequently extending a few degrees to the south of it than to 

 the north. Its most southerly limit now is 50° N.L., viz. the 

 southern point of Kamtschatka, and its northern is most probably 

 Spitzbergen. It is also a native of Greenland, and is found in Ice- 

 land, but it is not an aboriginal inhabitant. Sir G. S. Mackenzie ^ 

 writes : " The reindeer has been introduced into the island, 

 and has increased rapidly. Out of thirteen which were exported 

 from Norway in 1770, three only reached Iceland. They were 

 sent into the mountains of the Guldbringe Syssel, and they have 

 since multiplied so considerably, that it is now no uncommon thing 

 for those who pass often through the mountains in various parts 

 of the island to meet with herds consisting of from forty to sixty 

 or a hundred. They are very little molested, the Icelanders 

 satisfying themselves with complaining that the deer eat their 

 lichen ; and, though sometimes for the sake of amusement the 

 Danes go out in pursuit of them, very few are destroyed. They 

 live almost entirely among the mountains, and are very shy ; but 

 sometimes in the depth of winter come down into the plains, 

 particularly about Thirgvaka, to feed on the moss which abounds 

 in that quarter." 



1 " Travels in the Island of Iceland," 1811. 



