THE REIN DEER. 
31 
THE REIN DEER. 
His legs are small and long, like those of a colt; his 
tail is short; his horns are high, with many branches, 
and his hoofs are divided like those of the cow. 
What color is he ? 
The color of the Rein Deer is dark brown in the win¬ 
ter, but turns light grey in the summer. His coat is 
thick and warm all over his body, but under the throat 
the hair is long, and hangs down in a bunch. 
Where does this animal live ? 
This aninjal lives in Lapland, a cold and icy country, 
where the ground, except during a short time in the sum¬ 
mer, is always covered with snow. He is also found in 
the north parts of America. 
Is he a tame, or a wild animal ? 
In Lapland, the Rein Deer is a tame, domestic animal, 
and is used about the houses, as the cow and horse are in 
other countries. He is also found wild in Lapland and 
other countries. 
Of what use is this animal ? 
In that cold country where he lives, this animal is so 
useful, that the Laplanders could not possibly live with¬ 
out him. 
How do they make him so useful ? 
He there takes the place of the cow, the sheep and the 
horse. Like the cow, this animal gives milk, of which 
butter and cheese are made. Instead of the horse, he 
draws his master with wonderful swiftness in a little 
sleigh, called a sledge ; and instead of sheep’s wool, his 
skin is made into clothing, with the hair on, and which 
is much warmer than any cloth we can make. 
What does he feed on ? 
The Rein Deer feeds chiefly on Iceland moss, which 
in winter he finds by digging with his fore feet through 
) the snow down to the rocks, where it grows. He also 
) eats the small twigs of trees. 
( What is Iceland Moss ? 
The Iceland moss, is a small, low running plant, 
' without any flowers to be seen, which grows among the 
) rocks in Lapland and Iceland. This moss is brought to 
) this country, and is sometimes used in medicine. 
If this animal is so useful in Lapland, why is he not made useful in 
) other countries ? 
Many trials have been made to carry this animal into 
| other countries, and to make him useful, but it is found 
( that he cannot be of any use out of his own country. He 
: loves the cold and snow, and soon dies if taken into a 
( warm climate. 
( Is the Rein Deer bought and sold in Lapland, as the horse and cow 
are in other countries ? 
{ In Lapland the people are rich, or poor, in proportion 
to the number of Rein Deer they possess. The poorest 
i family has six or eight of these animals, for they cannot 
live without them, while the rich have a thousand, or 
) more, which they sell to such people as want to buy 
} them. Besides the other uses of this animal, his flesh is 
i the common meat of the Laplanders. 
