NATURAL HISTORY. 
37 
with famine. When not a blade of verdure 
can be found, on heath, valley, or mountain ; 
trees, bounteoufly affording a black mofs, 
prove to him a moft ample fuftenance. In 
the prelervation of this animal, the Lap- 
landers themfelves are much interefted; as, 
independent of their laborious fervices, the 
flefh of the rein-deer, is alfo their princi- 
pal food. 
What a contraft do thefe northern coun- 
tries afford, when compared with thofe of 
our more clement and fertile climates ! The 
Laplander is obliged to depend on the rein- 
deer for food, clothing, and conveyance, 
while we have almofl the whole range of na- 
ture for our accommodation. Should not 
this advantage alone excite in us fuch a fenfe 
of fuperior happinefs, as to render us ever 
grateful to that Providence, wliofe diftin- 
guiflied bounties we enjoy ? 
7he STAG. 
T 
A HE colour of this animal is generally of 
a reddifli brown, with fome black in the face, 
and a black lifl down the hinder part of the 
neck, and between the fhoulders. The flag 
is very delicate in his food ; and, during the 
Winter and fpring, feldom drinks. They go 
about eight months with young, but feldom 
produce more than one. They breed in May 
D when 
