E «5« ] 



This quadruped hath therefore an inftin<£t to ufe a hoof of fuch 

 a form in a flill more advantageous manner, by feparating it 

 when the foot is to touch the ground, fo as to cover a larger 

 furface of mow. The inftant, however, the leg of the animal 

 is railed, the width of the foot becomes inconvenient, efpecially 

 when it is going againft the wind; the hoof, therefore, is then 

 immediately contracted, and the collifion of the parts occafions 

 the inapping, which is heard upon every motion of the Rein. 



Another reafon, pombly, for this noife, may a rife from Lap- 

 land's being not only covered with fnow great part of the year, 

 but alfo for fome time under a perpetual night; the Rein is a 

 gregarious animal, and often obliged to go a great way for fuf- 

 tenance, probably therefore the cracking which they perpetually 

 make, may ferve to keep them together when the weather is 

 remarkably dark. Bells round fheep are known to be very con- 

 venient for the fame purpofe, when they graze upon a wide 

 extended down. 



Leemius mentions another very lingular circumftance with 

 regard to the Lapland wolves; which is, that, when they have 

 killed the Rein, they always place the carcafe with the head 

 towards the Eaft, and that the fkeletons are conftantly found 

 in fuch pofition. This fad, indeed, is fo extraordinary, that it 

 mould not be too lightly credited ; animals, however, have un- 

 doubtedly their reafon for choofing or declining certain afpedts : 

 the martin, for example, feldom builds its .heft againft the 

 fouth. 



Though I have ftated fo many particulars from this writer, not 

 only becaufe he is the lateft Naturalift who hath defcribed 

 the Rein, but becaufe he refided ten years in Finmark ; yet I 

 cannot but take notice of one paffage in his work, in which I 

 conceive he muft be entirely miftaken. 



Leemius 



