DEE R. 
they inhabit Lapland y Norway , Suedtn and Rujjia » 
in 4 &, the N. E. parts of artary and Siberia 
but in each of thofe continents inhabit only parts, 
where cold reigns with the utmoft rigor during part 
of the year. 
They live amidft the forefts for the conveniency 
of browzing the boughs of trees, for the great 
length, of their legs and the fhortnefs of their neck 
prevents them from grazing with any fort of eafe; 
they often feed on water plants, which they can 
readily get at by wading*, and M. Sarrafin * fays, 
they are. fo fond of the Anagyris fcetida y or ftinking 
bean trefoil, as to dig for it with their feet, when 
covered with fnow. 
They have a fingular gait *, their pace is a high 
fhambling trot, but they go with vaft fwiftnefs j in 
old times thele animals were made ufe of in Sueden 
to draw fledges j but as they were frequently acceft 
fary to the efcape of murderers and other crimi¬ 
nals, the ufe was prohibited under great penalties* 
In paffing thro’ thick woods, they carry their heads 
horizontally, to prevent their horns being entan¬ 
gled in the branches. In their common walk they 
raife their fore feet very high; that which I faw 
ftepped over a rail near a yard high with great 
eafe. 
They are very inoffenfive animals except when 
wounded, or in the rutting feafon, when they be¬ 
come very furious, and at that time fwim from ifle 
to ifle, in purfuit of the females. They ftrike with both 
horns and hoofs are hunted in Canada during win- 
* Martin's abridg, mem. and Kfi, Acad, iv, 253, 
ter. 
