ïfl f
■ ïM. I - ii,
Ir
y I
XXII. Fucus serratus. This, and various other
large species of fucus, serve occasionally for
food for the cattle and fuel for the poor
natives.
xxiii. Equisetum sylvaticum. Various species of
equisetum (of which five, besides this one, are
in the list) are given to the cattle in Iceland,
vvheie they are said to be accounted excellent
food for horses.
xxiv. Salix herbácea. The downy substance
from this and other species of willow is applied
by the natives to wounds both of man and
beast. The leaves steeped in water are employed
in tanning skins. The wood is used in
making mk, being steeped in a decoction of
the leaves, to which is added some of the
earth used in dyeing (a kind of ferruginous
clay) all are then boiled together until the
liquid has acquired a proper consistency.
X X V . Ranunculus acris. Often used for Vaisino-
blisters. °
xxvi. Sedum acre. Mr. Povelsen says, “ Commonly
used in Iceland as an emetic.”
xxvii. Menyanthes trifoliata. The reidinga,
already mentioned as employed to prevent the
saddle, or any load, from chafing the horses’
backs.
xxMii. The grasses for sheep and cattle in the
meadows and valleys through which rivers or
streamlets flow are tolerably abundant, and
J l
keep both horses and horned cattle in good
condition during the summer months. They
also afford good hay, when the weather will
allow them to get it well in. They consist of
those most common in all the northern climates.
Of the Agrostis Dr. Hooker enumerates
seven species; of Phleum three; of
Aira, seven ; of Poa nine ; of Festuca, six.
Besides these, there are various species of
Arundo, Triticum, Plantago, Juncus, Rumex,
Lathyrus, Vicia, Trifolium, and a great màny
others. Many of the fuci or sea-weeds are
eagerly devoured by such of the horses and
cattle as are near the coast in the winter
season, when other food fails them, which is
often the case. Many of the mosses and
lichens are also eaten by the sheep and cattle,
and th a t beautiful lichen, the Rangiferinus,
is not the favourite of the rein-deer only, but
sought after by the domesticated animals.
The rein-deer are not included among such
in Iceland ; but many thousands are said to
run wild in the interior and uninhabited parts
of the island, having been first introduced in
the year 1770 from Norway with the intention
of making them useful* ; they might, indeed,
hy domestication, become most valuable : their
skins, when dressed, are beautiful ; at present
* Von Troil’s Letters,
Íi
* flii