THE REINDEER. 
86 
parts of it, particularly its boundless foreS^* 
are so infested by various species of 
and other insects that no animal can escaf 
their incessant persecutions. Large fires 
kindled, in the smoke of which the cattle ho|‘| 
their heads to escape the persecution of 
enemies ; and even the natives themselves 
compelled to smear their faces with tar, 
the only certain protection against tb®’; 
stings. No creature, however, suffers 
than the reindeer from the larger sped^'' 
ealled by naturalists (zstrus tarandi, as it 
only torments it incessantly by its sting, 
even deposits its egg in the wound which 
makes in the hide. The poor animal is 
tormented to such a degree, that the 
Laplander, if he were to remain in the for®®* 
during the months of June, July, and Augi^®*’ 
would run the risk of losing the greater p^’ 
of his herd, either by actual sickness, or 
the deer fleeing of their own accord to md'*’ 
o' 
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