FrEz., 1912. Mammats oF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN — Corv. 85 
(Rangifer tarandus), a species closely allied to our Caribou, are kept 
in great herds by natives of northern Europe and Asia. In the majority 
of cases these herds number a few hundred, but it is claimed among 
the Koreki that herds of thirty and forty thousand are found. 
Some years ago several thousand domesticated Reindeer from East 
Siberia were successfully imported into northwest Alaska and distri- 
buted among the Eskimos, where it is hoped they will prove as useful 
to the inhabitants of that barren country as they have for hundreds 
of years to Old World tribes in northern Siberia, Lapland, and else- 
where. What their value has been to them may be estimated when 
it is known that they depend largely upon the flesh of the Reindeer 
for their food in winter. The skins are used for garments and a variety 
of other purposes; even the sinews are made into a very serviceable 
strong thread. The living animal has enabled the nomadic tribes to 
solve the problem of transportation, as the animals have been trained 
to carry burdens and to draw sleds. In addition to this the milk of 
the cow Reindeer, while small in quantity, is very rich and is much 
used in the manufacture of native cheese. 
Before closing my remarks concerning the Old World Reindeer, a 
quotation from the pen of one of the ancient writers may be of interest. 
In 1607 Edward Topsell wrote: 
“The King of Swetia had ten of them nourished at Lappa which 
he caused every day to be driven into the mountains into coldeayer, 
for they were not able to endure the heat. The mouth of this beast 
is like the mouth of a cow, they many times come out of Laponia and 
Swetia, where they are wonderfuly anoied with wolvs, but they gather 
themselves together in a ring, and so fight against their enemies with 
their hornes. They are also in their owne naturall countrey anoied 
with Goulons, and generally all beastes that live uppon the spoiles of 
flesh, are enemies unto them, and desire to destroy and eate them. 
In their pace, both slow and speedie, the Articles of their legs make 
a noise like the cracking of Nuts. There was one of these beasts 
given unto the Duke of Saxony in the year of our Lord 1561. 
“In Scandinavia they use them for the carriadge of mettels, drawing 
of Chariots and riding, and the nerves of them when they are dead 
make bows, and for want of nailes, they do fasten plankes and boords 
togither.’’* 
* Historie of Foure Footed Beastes, Lénd., 1607, p. 593. 
