a person to assist him by holding it fast by the horns, places himself between
its hind legs. He then applies his teeth to the scrotum, so as to
bruise its contents, but dot so as to break the skin, for in that case the
rein-deer would die. He afterwards bruises the part still more effectually
betw’een his fingers. The same operation is performed on both
sides, at one time, i f the rein-deer remains quiet long enough for the
purpose. The animal is rather indisposed for a while, so that he can
hardly keep up with the rest of the herd; but he usually recovers perfectly
in a week’s time.
The rein-deer are dreadfully tormented in hot weather by a kind of
fly (the oestrus tarandi.) They cannot stand still an instant, but are
continually changing their posture, Starting, puffing and blowing. Ten
or a dozen of these flies are sufficient to throw a Whole herd of rein-
■ deer into commotion. The fly pierces the skin of the rein-deer, and deposites
its eggs. When they are hatched the insect makes its Way
through the skin. Hence when rein-deers are killed at the end of summer,
their skins are much less valuable than at other seasons ; being
full of holes produced by these mischievous insects.
Though the rein-deer will not eat hay, they feed with avidity upon
the great water horse-tail (equisetum fluviatile), even when in a dry
state. It is obvious, therefore, that the Laplanders might lay up a Store
o f this plant for the winter provision o f these Useful animals, and thus
prevent them from being exposed to famine, when the rein-deer moss
happens to be frozen up.
The rein-deer is liable to several diseases, some o f which it may be
worth while to enumerate.
Their hoofs are not uncommonly affected with a swelling at the edgé
where they are attached to the skin. An ulcer breaks out at this part
which is seldom healed. The creature thus grows' lame, and is unable
to keep up with the herd.
They are sometimes attacked with a vertigo, or giddiness of the
head, which causes them to run round and round continually. Those
which run according to the course o f the sun áre conceived curable
by the Laplanders; but those which run the contrary way are thought
to be incurable, and are therefore immediately killed. The cure for
the former, practised by the Laplanders, is to cut their ears, so as to
cause a great discharge of blood.
The Itarhma, or ulceration, produced by the gad fly (ioestrus tarandi)
takes place every spring, especially in the fawns. Such as are brought
forth in the summer are free from this misfortune the ensuing spring,
but in the following one many of them lose their lives by it. When
come to their full size and strength, the consequences are less fatal;
but no rein-deer is entirely exempt from the attacks o f this pernicious
insect.
The fawns are frequently afflicted with a soreness in their mouth, so
as to be unable to eat.
Rein-deer are subject to a disease called by the Laplanders pekke
Tfattiata, accompanied with ulcerations o f the flesh, which however
often heal by a sloughing of the part affected. This is an epidemic
disorder. It is believed that i f any of the ulcerous part, which is cast
9,ffl be swallowed by the animal, in licking his own coat, or that o f
any other o f the herd labouring under this malady, it proves fatal by
corroding the viscera.
The dugs of the female often become chapped and sore, so as to
bleed whenever they are milked.
The male rein-deer in his natural state is fatter than such as are
castrated, except the latter be kept without work, in which case they
become the fattest. Such as ar,e castrated and allowed to run wild become
considerably larger, as well as tamer in consequence. The rutting
season lasts but a fortnight, from about a week preceding the
feast o f St. Matthew (Sept. 21), to Michaelmas-day; during which
period the male is savage and dangerous. Immediately afterwards he
casts his hair and horns, and not unfrequently becomes so emaciated,
that in many instances, death is the consequence. The females bring
forth their young about the 18 th May in the following year, or within
a fortnight o f that period, very rarely later. They do not copulate
the first year, and seldom before the third, their progeny being found
the better for this delay.