The liein-deer. 161 
^&m? 
THE REIN -DEER, (Cervus Tarandus, or Rangifer 
Tarandus,) 
Is found in most of the northern regions of Europe, Asia, 
and America, and its general height is about four feet and 
a half. The colour is brown above and white beneath ; 
but as the animal advances in age, it often becomes of a 
greyish white. The hoofs are long, large, and black. 
Both sexes are furnished with horns, but those of the 
male are much the largest. To the Laplanders this 
animal supplies the place of the horse, the cow, the goat, 
and the sheep , it is their only wealth. The milk affords 
them cheese, the flesh, food; the skin, clothing; of the 
tendons they make bowstrings, and when split, thread ; 
of the horns, glue ; and of the bones, spoons. During 
the winter, the Reindeer supplies the want of a horse, 
and draws sledges with amazing swiftness over the 
frozen lakes and rivers, or over the snow, which at that 
time covers the whole country. Innumerable are the 
uses, the comforts, and advantages which the poor in- 
habitants of this dreary climate derive from this animal. 
We cannot sura them up better than in the beautiful 
language of the poet : 
" Their Rein-deer form their riches. These their tents, 
Their robes, their beds, and all their homely wealth 
M 
