3 ^ 
natural history. 
The R E I N-D E E R. 
T 
JL HIS Is the moil iifeful and extraordinary 
animal of all the deer kind. It is a native of 
the northern icy regions, and feems adapted 
by iiatur" to ferve that part of mankind who 
live near the pole. It inhabits further north- 
ward than any other hoofed animal ; for it is 
found in Spitvbergen and Greenland. But, 
in America, it is never iecn farther fouthward 
than Canada. In Europe, they are alfo found 
in Samoidea, Lapland, and Norway. In Afia, 
they are feen as far as Kamlchatka and Sibe- 
ria. This animal mofUy fuplics the wants of 
the Laplanders and Greenlanders ; ferving 
them as horics, to draw their fledges over the 
icy lakes and fnowy mountains, which they 
do with incredible rapidity. Like the cow, 
they yield all the commodities of milk, cheefe, 
and butter.; and as flieep tliey fiirnifli them 
with a warm, though homely clothing. The 
fielh ferves them for food, their tendons for 
bowftrings, and when Iplit, for thread. So 
that fi-om this quadruped alone, they derive 
as many allvantagcs as we do from feveral. 
The height of a full-grown rein-deer is 
about. .four feet fix inches. , T^jcrp cannot 
be ftronger proof of the difpenfation of di- 
vine providence, than in the food which 
is provided for this animal, when the Ihow- 
clad face of his country feems to threaten 
' ' ' him 
