E S S A Y It' 



ON THE R E I N-D E E R. 



IT hath been a generally received opinion, that the rein- 

 deer 2 will not live for any time fouth of Lapland, or that 

 part of North America which, though of a more fouthern lati- 

 tude, 'equals Lapland in the rigour of its climate. 



Queen Chriftina of Sweden had procured five and twenty of 

 thefe quadrupeds, which me propofed to fend to Oliver Crom- 

 well, and which might long fince have proved the contrary, had 

 they reached this country. 



Whitelock was then ambaffador from England at that court, 

 and endeavoured to prevail upon four Laplanders, who brought 

 the reins as far as Stockholm, to attend them to England, 

 which they refufed to do, but faid they would take care of 

 them during the winter. The Laplanders, however, were very 

 negligent in their charge, for foon afterwards fifteen were killed 

 by the wolves, and the remaining ten did not long furvive, the 

 climate of Stockholm being confidered as too warm b . 



BufFon, 



a Rennthier (which is ufually pronounced rein-deer) fignifies an animal 



formed for running, from the Teutonic word rennen to run. Bufching's 



Geography, Vol. I. p. 345. 



b See the Journal of Wh'telock's Swedifh embaffy, Vol. T. p. 442, 

 I fhall here ftate fome other inftanees, however, of reins being brought 



to more fouthern countries, where they feem to have lived a conliderable 



time. 



Sir 



