174 
THE STORY OF THE REINDEER . 
is from an inch to an inch and a half in length, and is somewhat crimped 
or waved, while beneath this is a coat of woolly under-fur. The general 
color of the reindeer is brownish-gray, with the face, neck and throat whitish, 
and the nose, ears and limbs brown. There are, however, great individual 
variations as regards color, some specimens being nearly or quite white 
throughout. In general the tail is white, with a tinge of brown at the root 
and on the upper surface; and there is a distinct white ring around each 
fetlock. 
The various races of reindeer differ considerably from one another in 
respect of height; but the bucks of the larger American variety stand about 
4-J feet at the withers, and usually weigh some 350 pounds, although un¬ 
usually fine specimens may reach nearly 400 pounds. In regard to the 
length of the antlers, it appears that fine examples vary from 48 to over 
57 inches, although one pair is known in which the length reaches to 
upwards of 60 inches. There is great variation in regard to the span oi 
antlers and the number of points they carry, while it is not unfrequently the 
case that the longest specimens have by no means the greatest girth. 
At the present day reindeer are unknown in the Old World below the 
southern shore of the Baltic; it appears, however, that in the time of Caesar 
they were met with in the Black Forest of Northern Germany, although 
whether as permanent residents or as winter immigrants, cannot, of course, 
be now ascertained. In the British Isles, remains of reindeer are commonly 
met with in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and it was long considered that 
in Caithness this deer survived till the middle of the twelfth century, although 
the latest reseaches tend to disprove this idea. Reindeer remains are also 
found over the Continent, as far south as the valleys of the Dordogne and 
Garonne in France. 
Reindeer inhabit the northern regions of both the Eastern and Western 
Flemispheres, and there is but a single species. 
