REIN DEER. 
193 
eternally, did the weight of their body rest only on 
a small point. This quadruped has, therefore, 
an instinetto use a hoof of such a fbrm in a stilt 
more advantageous manner, by separating it when 
the foot is to touch the ground, so as to cover a 
larger surface of snow. The instant, however, 
that the leg of this animal is raised, the width 
of the foot becomes inconvenient, especially when 
it is going against the wind ; the hoof there- 
fore, is then immediately contracted, and the 
collision of the parts occasions the snapping which 
is heard upon every motion of the animal. 
Pontoppidan tells us, that the rein deer has 
over his eyedids a kind of skin, through which it 
peeps, when otherwise, in hard showers of snow* 
it would be obliged to shut its eyes entirely. He 
however, seems to have mistaken this for, probably* 
a breathing-hole, somewhat similar to that near 
the eye of the fallow deer, and some of the spe- 
cies of antelope. 
The rein deer cast their horns annually. The 
rudiments of the new horns are at first covered 
with a kind of woolly membrane, which the crea^- 
ture, after some time, rubs off. They also change 
their hair every spring, during which time they 
are very lean, and of little use. 
Rein deer were formerly known in Iceland, but 
by order of governor Thodal, thirteen head were 
sent over from Norway in the year 1770, of which 
ten died from want of proper attention before they 
reached the place. The three remaining ones 
throve exceedingly wcll> and in the first two years 
had several fawns. They have there their proper 
food, for Iceland abounds with all those mosses, 
to which these animals have so great a partiality. 
Sir Henry George Liddell, bart. brought with 
him from Lapland, in the year 17S6, five rein deer 
to England, whickhe kept at his seat at Esjington 
vol. ii, c e 
