[ *54 ] 



live more than a year; and Mr. Heyde hath this autumn [1773] 

 received a male and female, which were in November laft very 

 healthy. Leemius obferves, that in Finmark they are fubjecl: to 

 the epilepfy % 



Every written voyage to the higher northern latitudes makes 

 mention of this very ufeful quadruped, whilft Scheffer, BufFon, 

 Hoffberg, and Leemius, have given us its natural hiftory. 



Leemius is the laft of thefe, who publifhed at Copenha- 

 gen his account of Finmark Lapland in 1767, and rehded in 

 that country more than ten years ; he is therefore more to be 

 depended upon than any of the others, who it is believed 

 never faw the animal alive ; at leaft the upper antlers, as engraved 

 by Hoffberg, more refemble thofe of the Elk than of the rein- 

 deer. There is, however, a very good reprefentation of the rein- 

 deer in Pennant's Synopfis of Quadrupeds. 



As Leemius's work, hath fcarcely found its way yet into the 

 more fouthern parts of Europe, I fhall make fome extracts from 

 it, with regard to this animal, with which he had fo frequent 

 opportunities of being thoroughly acquainted. 



It is agreed by all naturalifts to be peculiar to the female Rein- 

 deer, that they fhould have horns as well as the male : Leemius 

 however remarks- that this is not always the fact, fome having 

 none at all, as likewife that they lofe them entirely after par- 

 turition f . 



The projecting brow antler alfo is not obferved in any other 

 fpecies of deer, the ufe of which I mould conceive to be a proper 

 defence againft that arch enemy the wolf; andLeemius accordingly 



< See alfo Amcen. Acad. Vol. IV. p. 144. 



f P. 142. — Scheffer cites Olaus for the rein's, having a third horn in 

 the middle of their heads, and confirms this on his own authority. See 

 p. 324. c, 28; as alfo for their attaining their full fize in the fourth, 

 year. 



mentions 



