3104 Quadrupeds. 



the lower one ; this, at a short distance, makes the face appear very 

 long, and the large round black nose looks like a deformity or an ac- 

 cidental swelling, I can only compare it to a cannon-ball half embed- 

 ded in the upper lip ; no doubt this projection enables them the more 

 easily to turn up the snow and seize the moss upon which they feed. 

 The feet, being very large and splayed, look strangely disproportion- 

 ate to the legs, which are elegant ; they much resemble cows' hoofs, 

 and must be admirably adapted for crossing soft snow, the large wide 

 foot presenting a piece de resistance, where the smaller feet of other 

 deer must necessarily sink in : their track across the snow more re- 

 sembles that of a large ox than of a deer. But though the feet are so 

 formed that they spread out when placed on the snow, and cover a 

 large surface, yet when lifted up again, they contract with a curious 

 crackling noise, and are easily withdrawn from the snow, however 

 deeply they may have sunk in it. When the reindeer is running, this 

 snapping noise, caused by sharply drawing in the hoofs together, is 

 very great. It is with these large scoop-like fore-hoofs that the rein- 

 deer dig out the moss, when they have, with most marvellous instinct, 

 discovered it buried deep beneath the snow. The horns are very long 

 and branching, and lie almost parallel with the back : the females, as 

 well as the males, have horns (which I believe is not the case with 

 any other species of deer), but they are smaller and shorter than those 

 of the bucks, and are pure white, like bone, while the horns of the 

 bucks are of a dark brown. The hair or rather fur of the reindeer is 

 by no means the least curious part of these strange animals ; on the 

 body it is dark brown, on the neck and under parts light hair-brown 

 and white, very soft and warm, and reminds one of the fibres of an 

 ostrich feather in appearance, and still more in touch. It is of ex- 

 ceeding closeness, and I should think it quite impervious to wet and 

 cold ; and indeed, as the reindeer cannot exist, even during the sum- 

 mer months, without snow, but constantly lies upon it, and almost 

 always lives upon it, no doubt his coat is suited to resist its effects. 

 The Laps and Norwegians are well aware of this, and in the depth of 

 winter, when they travel so much, and such long distances, in their 

 sledges, with these valuable animals, the universal dress is a cap, a 

 cloak, and an apron of reindeer's skin, armed with which they can 

 defy even Norwegian cold, but without which no one would think of 

 making a journey. These sledging expeditions are reported to be 

 most wild and exciting, even to Norwegians : the whole turn-out is 

 so exceedingly quaint and primitive, and so independent ; the coun- 

 try to be traversed, boundless tracts of untrodden snow ; the harness, 



