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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



A MOUNTED COURIER OE THE EAR NORTH 



Reindeer were introduced into Alaska by the government in order to insure a food supply 

 and economic independence for the natives living in those sections of the territory where the 

 deer could be propagated. A number of Lapps were induced to settle in Alaska at the same 

 time. They have taught the Eskimos how to care for the herds and how to handle the deer 

 as draft animals. 



male from good feeding places for her 

 young; that the large antlers and brow- 

 tines of the deer are not used, as stated 

 by many writers, to scrape away the snow 

 and uncover the moss, but that the deer 

 use their hoofs to break the crust and 

 paw their way to their feed ; that while 

 in motion a herd produces a peculiar 

 sound, similar to that of an approaching 



hail-storm, a crackling sound, which 

 some have claimed arises from the strik- 

 ing together of the horny toes, but which 

 in fact is due to the peculiar anatomy of 

 the animal at the fetlocks, and is pro- 

 duced by some sinew at that point when 

 the foot is in action. 



Unlike most animals, the reindeer pre- 

 fers to travel against the wind. Heavy 



