REIN DEER. 
a part of their clothing ; it forms also a warm inner 
lining for their tents, and makes most excellent 
blankets. The tendons are their bow strings, and, 
when split, are the threads with which they sew 
their jackets. 
The rein deer has large but slender horns, co- 
vered with a down like velvet, palmated towards 
the top, and bending forwards in a peculiar man- 
ner. Here we cannot help remarking the wisdom 
of Providence, in thus providing the animal with 
the means of satisfying his wants ; for, had the horns 
been straight like other deer, they would have 
been of no use in removing the deep snow which 
covers the ground in those inclement regions, and 
hides from them their favourite lichen. The height 
of a full grown rein deer is about four feet six. The 
animal is admirably defended against the cold by 
the great thickness of his hair, which is placed so 
close as completely to hide the skin, even if it is 
put aside with the greatest care. The colour of 
the hair is brownish when the coat is first shed, 
but turns of a hoary whiteness after it has been for 
some time exposed to the rigoiir of the winter sea- 
son. A large tuft of a dirty white colour hangs 
from the neck, and the animal has invariably a 
black space round the eyes. A white ring sur- 
rounds the feet just at the insertion of the hoof, 
which is broad and deeply cloven. The crackling 
noise which these creatures make when they run, 
is owing to their loose hoofs being drawn up forcibly 
together ; and they make such a prodigious clatter, 
