$6 NATURAL HISTORY. 
of milk, cheefe, and butter; and, as fheep, the eas 
them awarm, though homely, clothing. he flefh 
ferves them for food, their tendons for bowftrings, 
and, when {plit, for thread. So that from this quad- 
ruped alone, they derive as many advantages as wedo 
from feveral. ‘The height of a full grown rein deer is 
about four feet fix inches.. There cannot.be ftrong- 
er proof of the difpenfations of divine providence, 
than inthe food whichis provided for this animal, 
when the fhow clad face of his country feems to threat- 
enhim with famine. When not ablade of verdue can 
be found, on heath, valley, or mountain; trees, 
bounteoufly affording a black mofs, prove to hima 
moft ample fuftenance. In the. preferyation of this 
animal, the Laplanders themfelves are much intereft- 
ed; as, independent of their labourious. fervices, the 
flefh of the rein deer is alfo their principle food. 
_ What a contraft do thefe northern countries afford, 
when compared with thofe of our more’ clement and 
fertile climates! The Laplander is obliged to depend 
on the rein deer for food, clothing, and coveyance 
while we have almoft the whole range of nature for 
our accommedation. Should not this advantage alone 
excite in us fuchafenfe of fuperior happineis, as to 
render us ever gratetul to that providence, whole dil- 
tinguifhed bounties we enjoy? 
1} O1QOor— 
STAG. 
‘Cue colour of this animal is generally of a redifl; 
brown, with fome black in his face, and a black liil 
down the hinder parts of the neck, and between the 
thoulders. The ftag is very delicate in his food; and, 
during the winter and {pring, feldom drinks. Lhey 
go about eight months with young, but feldom pro- 
duce more thanone. ‘They breed in May when they 
carefully conceal their young in the moft fecret thick- 
ets. This precaution is wifely di€tated to them, from 
7 
