MAMMALIA. PECORA. Deer, 297 



641 a. Common Rein Deer. — 4. a. Ccrv. Tarandus Rangifer. 



All the upper parts of the horns, both of the main branches, and the brow antlers, are 

 palmated. Briff. regn. an. 92. n. 8. 



Reinthier, and Tarandthier. Gefn. Thierb. 206. 207. 208. 209. — Rennthier. Gr. v. Mellin, 

 Schr. der, Berl. naturf. gef. i. n. 1. Ridinger, wild, thier. 35. 



642 R. Greenland Rein Deer. — 4. /3. Cer<v. Tarandus groenlandicus. 



The horns are entirely rounded, and covered with a hairy {kin ; the nofe is much co- 

 vered with hair. Briff. regn. an. 88. n. 4. 



Capra groenlandica, or Greenland Goat. Raj. quad. 90. — Greenland Deer. Catefb. Carol, app. 

 p. xxviii. — Greenland Buck. Edw. av. i. t. 5 1. 



643 y. Canadian Rein Deer. — 4. y. Cevu. Tarandus Caribou. 



Has flraight horns, with a (ingle fnag, turned forwards, at the bafe of each. Briff. regn. 

 an. 91. n. 6. 



Caribou. Charlev. nouv. Fr. iii. 129. Dobbs, Hudfon's Bay. 20. 21. — Macarib, Caribo, or Po- 

 liano. Joffelyn, New Eng. 20. 



Inhabits chiefly the moft northern mountains of Europe, Afia, and America, as far as Spitsbergen, 

 Greenland, and Kamtfchatka ; is found likewife in the more fouthern parts of Ruflia, and even in 

 Sardinia, though fmaller; the horns have likewife been found in marie pits in Scotland. — In Lapland 

 the wild Rein deer inhabit the higheft mountains during fummer, and defcend into the defert plains 

 in winter, from which they are again driven to the mountains in the fummer to efcape from the per- 

 fection of various infects, particularly the Culex pipiens, Gad-fly, and Tabanus tarandi. They feed 

 much on a fpecies of Liver-wort called from them Lichen rangiferinus, efpecially in winter, when they 

 have to dig it out with their feet from below the fnow, under many feet deep of which it lies buried. 

 The male cafts his horns immediately after the rutting feafon, about the end of November ; and the 

 female, which has horns like the male, though not fo large, preferves hers till the middle of May, 

 when fhe drops her fawns. She goes thirty-three weeks with young, and frequently has twins. In 

 a domefticated ftate, the Rein deer feldom exceeds fixteen years of age. In Lapland great numbers 

 of thefe animals are kept tame by the natives, to whom they are of indifpenfible ufe, for drawing 

 fledges, and for fupplying them with milk, flefh, and lkins as clothing : The Samojedes likewife ufe 

 their hides for fails. When caftrated the male feldom Lofes his horns till nine years old. 



In a domefbic ftate the Rein deer feldom exceeds -three feet high, but the wild animals are larger, 

 fometimes four and a half feet at the fhoulder. The horns of the Rein deer, though long, are rather 

 flender ; the beams are very long, bend firft a little backward, are then gradually curved, and the 

 palms at the ends fland forwards; the brow ; ntlers rife from the main beams clofe to the head, have 

 lhort beams, broad palms, and numerous fnags; arad generally, immediately over thefe, a branch rifes 

 from each main beam, which projects forwards^ and is fomevvhat palmated at the ends, with feveral 

 fnags. The upper parts of the body are of a brown afli colour, growing gradually lighter with age, 

 till it becomes white at laft ; the fpace rouni the mouth, the whole under parts of the body., and the 

 tail, are white ; the orbits are furrcunded with black; the fur is very thickly fet, and on the fore part 

 - Vol. I. P p of 



