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NATURAL HISTORY. 29 
with incredible fwiftnefs. The elk delights in cold 
countries, where they feed on grafsin fummer, and 
on the bark of trees in winter. In {nowy weather 
they affemble in herds, and feek the fir forefts, where 
they remain, while they can find the leaft fubfiftence 
from the bark of the trees. At thistime they are 
moftly hunted by the natives of New England, No- 
va Scotia and Canada, in America; by the inhabitants 
of Lapland, Norway, Sweden and Ruffia, in Europe ; 
and by the inhabitants of the north eaft parts of ‘lar- 
tary and Siberia, in Afia. The chafe of thefe animals 
frequently continues two or three days. 
The fleth of the elk hasan agreeable tafte, and is 
faid to be nourifhing. The fkin is fo ftrong and thick, 
as to refift a mufquet ball. Its horns are ufed for the 
fame purpofes as harts horns. ‘ 
~ ‘Yhey were formerly ufed in Sweden to draw 
fledges; but criminals frequently availing themfelves 
ef their fwiftnefs, to efcape the purfuit of juftice, the 
ufe of them was prohibited under very fevere penal- 
nes. 
OOH 
REINDEER, 
‘Turs is the moft ufeful and extraordinary animal 
of allthe deer kind. It is a native of the northern icy 
regions, and feems adapted» by nature to ferve that 
art of mankind who live near the pole. It inhabits 
Rirthes northward than other hoofed animal; for it is 
found in Spitzbergenand Greenland. But, in Ame- 
ica, itis never feen farther fouthward than Canada. 
In Europe, they are alfo found in Samoidea, Lapland, 
and Norway. In Afia, they are feen as faras Kamf- 
chatka and Siberia. ‘This animal moftly fupplies the 
wantsofthe Laplanders and Greenlanders; ferving 
them as horfes, to draw their fledges over the icy lakes 
and {nowy mountains, which they do with incredible 
rapidity. Like the cow, they yield all the commedities 
. ae ahs" 
