THE REIN-DEER. 



the mow. This occafions it to make a loud cracking noife as it goes, for 

 every time the foot is lifted up from the ground, the divifion clofes again, 

 and the tides of the hoof firike againft each other. The head of the Rein-Deer 

 is adorned with two large and flender horns, which bend forwards, and are 

 furnilhed at the bafe with broad, palmated, brow antlers, which likewife 

 bend forwards, and nearly cover the face ; affording a finking inftance of 

 the kind care of the beneficent Creator, in forming his creatures in a manner the 

 bell adapted to their well-being ; for, were it not for this particular flructure 

 of the horns, the poor animal would flarve in the midft of plenty, from 

 inability to get at a fufficient quantity of its favourite mofs(A), which lies 

 buried during the winter at the bottom of the fnow ; and this accounts for a 

 circumliance which would otherwife appear lingular ; namely, that, contrary 

 to the nature of all other Deer, the female is furnifhed with horns as well as 

 the male, though they are not fo large. The body of this animal is clothed 

 with thick, warm hair, which is longer and coarfer about the neck ; it grows 

 fo thick over the whole body, that if it is any where feparated, the fkin does 

 not appear uncovered ; and it is thus furnifhed with a comfortable clothing, 

 fufficientiy warm to refill the rigour of the inhofpitable climates it is deftined 

 to inhabit. 



The general colour of the Rein-Deer is brown, but as fummer approaches, 

 k gradually becomes whiter, till at length the animal is nearly grey ; but the 

 fpace about the eyes is always black. The feet are furrounded with a ring 

 of white, jufl at the infertion of the hoof. Both male and female fried their 

 horns annually, and renew them like other Deer. The female begins to breed 

 at three years old, when the generally produces two young ones in the month 

 of May, and continues to do fo yearly, till me is grown old. She continues 

 to give milk till about the middle of October. The dam pofTelTes a wonderful 

 affeciion for her young; for, when they are feparated from her, the will 

 return from the patiure, calling continually round the cottage for them ; nor 

 will me defifi till they are brought to her, either alive or dead. The Rein-Deer - 

 will live to the age of fifteen or fixteen years ; but it is generally killed before 



(a) Lichen rangiferinus., Lim.Sj,. PL 11, 1020. Ft. Lap. 33], 



