DEE 
DEE 
of that variety of diflics fo common in more fouth- 
ern countries. The only delicacy procured from 
it arifes from the boiling it up with wood-forrel, and 
coagulating it; after which the whole is put into 
cafks, or Deer-^kins, and depofited under-ground 
as a referve for the winter feafon. 
. The fkin of this animal, however, is ftill more 
valuable than either of the above acquifitions. 
From that part of it which covers tlie head and 
limbs, are made thofe ftrong fnow-fhoes which 
fhield the feet of the natives from the inclemencies 
of the brumal feafons. Of the other parts thev 
make garments, which are extremely warm, and 
cover them from head to foot: the hair is worn 
on them externally ; and they are fometimes lined 
internally with the fur of the glutton, or fome other 
animal of the climate which is provided with a warm 
fkin. Their beds are likewife compofed of the 
fkins of the Rein-Deer; and are fpread, on each 
fide of the fire, upon fome leaves of the dwarf bircii- 
tree; which, without any other addition, afford a 
pretty comfortable lodging. Numbers of gar- 
ments, formed of the fkins of Rein-Deer, are an- 
nually imported into the more fouthern parts of 
Europe, where they are found fo effeftual in repel- 
ling the cold, as to be worn even by perfbns of the 
higheil quality. 
Though Rein- Deer are very vigorous and hardy 
animals, they are obnoxious to peculiar difeafes. 
It has already been obferved what injuries they 
.fiiflain from gnats and gad-flies. Their hides are 
often pierced in various parts by the latter of tliefe 
infefts; and numbers of them die jn their third 
•year from this fole caufe. Their dugs alfo fre- 
quently burfl in different places, when blood is 
•emitted inflead of milk. They fometimes con- 
trafb a loathing to their food ; and, inflead of eat- 
ing, fland ilill and ruminate. They are alfo, like 
the elk, troubled with vertigoes ; and, in that cafe, 
nfually run round and round till they expire. The 
Laplanders judge of their flate by the manner of 
their turning : if they move to the right, they fup- 
pofe their diforder to be but flight; but, if to the 
■left, they then deem them incurable. 
Rein-Deer are alfo fubjedl to ulcers near their 
-hoofs, which difqualify them either for travelling 
or keeping among the herd. But the mofl fatal 
diforder incident to thefe animals, is that which the 
.natives call fuddataka, to which they are liable 
at all feafons. The inflant this difeafe attacks 
them, the poor creatures breathe with great dif- 
ficulty; their eyes begin to flare, and their nof- 
trils to expand : they then alfo acquire an unufual 
degree of ferocity, attacking every objefl that 
: comes in their way wkh indifcriminate fury. Still, 
.however, they continue to feed, as if in perfe6l 
-health ; but they defifl from chewing their cud, 
and lie down more freqp.iently than before. In 
this manner they continue, daily confliming and 
becoming more emaciated, till at lafl they die 
through mere inanition ; nor has a fingle inflance 
ever occurred of one of thefe animals having fur- 
^yived this cruel dilbrder, which, notwithftanding 
it has but lately made it's appearance in that part 
of the world, has fpoiled whole provinces of thefe 
.valuable creatures. This malady being very con- 
tagious, the inflant the Laplanders perceive any 
animals belonging to their flocks infedled, they 
immediately difpatch them. When differed, a 
^frothy fubftance is found in their brains, and round 
their lungs ; their inteflines are lax and flabby; and 
the fpleen is almofl totally wafted. 
Befides the maladies natural to Rein-Deer, they 
are liable to maay adfcititious evils. Bears, and 
other wild beafls, often commit depredations on the 
herds; and the creature called the glutton, in par- 
ticular, is the mofl dangerous and fatal enemy. 
The contefls between thefe irreconcileable animals 
are not lefs frequent in North America than in 
Lapland; in the former of which countries the 
Rein-Deer is called the caribou, and the glutton 
the carcajou: this animal, which is not larger 
than a badger, frequently lies unobferved, for whole 
weeks together, among the branches of fome fpread- 
ing tree ; and, whenever the wild Rein-Deer is paff- 
ing underneath, it inflantly drops down, and fixes 
it's teeth and claws in the creature's neck. In 
vain does the wounded animal fly for protection 
to the thickeft fhades of the foreft; the glutton flill 
maintains it's hold; and, though it frequently lofes 
fome part of it's flcin and flefh by rubbing againfl 
the furrounding trees, it feldom relinquifhes it's ob- 
je£l till it has obtained a compleat victory. 
Deer, Virginian. The Virginian Deer are 
about the fize of the Englifh Fallow-Deer, and of 
a light brown colour. Their tails are longer than 
thofe of the Englifh bucks; and they appear to 
be a diflinft fpecies, peculiar to America. They 
are gregarious as well as very refllefs animals ; but 
they are not remarkable for their ferocity. Their 
flefh, though arid, is of the utmofl importance to 
the Indians, who dry it for their winter provifion. 
Their flcins form a valuable article of comm.erce, 
vafl numbers of them being annually imported 
into Great Britain. In the northern parts of 
America, they feed, during the long and fevere 
winters to which that climate is fubje6l, on that 
kind of mofs which depends in long firings from 
the trees. Their horns, which are flender, and 
bend greatly forwards, have numerous branches on 
their interior fides ; but they are deflitute of brow- 
antlers. Thefe animals, which are tamed with 
great facility, may be trained to range the woods 
during the day, and to return to their owners at 
night. 
Deer, Spotted Axis, The body of this ani- 
mal, which is about the fize of the Fallow-Deer, 
and of a light red colour, is beautifully marked 
with white fpots ; and along the lower part of the 
fides, next the belly, there is a line of white. The 
tail, which is about the length of that of the Fal- 
low-Deeer, is red above, and white beneath. The 
horns are flender, and triple-forked ; the firfl branch 
rifes near the bafe, the fecond near the top, and 
both point upwards. 
The Spotted Axis Deer inhabits the banks of 
the Ganges, and the iflands of Ceylon and Java. 
It is capable of enduring the rigours of an Eu- 
ropean climate, and has been known to breed in 
Holland. It is a very tame animal, and pofl'efl^es 
the fenfe of fmelling in an exquifite degree: and, 
though extremely fond of bread, it will not touch 
any that has been breathed on ; a peculiarity alfo 
obfervable in fome other animals. 
Deer, Great Axis. This animal is of a red- 
difli brown colour; and it's horns, which are tri- 
furcated, very thick, flrong, rugged, and of a whit- 
ifh hue, m.eafure two feet four inches between tip 
and tip. Thefe kind of Deer inhabit the iflands 
of Borneo and Ceylon ; and, according to fome na- 
turalifls, are as tall as horfes. The Dutch call them 
elanden, or elks. In Borneo, they are found in 
low marfhy places ; for which reafon they are called, 
in the Javan and Malayan tongues, Mejangan Ban- 
joe, or water-flags. 
There is another fpecies of thefe animals of arr 
3 M inferior 
