reindeer, raindeer, raynedere

[A. S. hrândeór; Icel. hreinn, hreindyr; Dan. rensdyr; Sw. ren, rendjur; Dut. rendier; Ger. rennthier, from Lapp. rei no, according to Skeat=pasture, but mistaken by the Swedes for the name of the animal.] Zool.: Rangifer tar and us, the only domesticated species of the family. It extends over the boreal regions of both hemispheres, and runs into several well-marked varieties. Many authors consider the American reindeer, which has never been domesticated, as a distinct species. The reindeer formerly had a much wider geographical range, and is probably the bos cervi figura described by Cæsar as inhabiting Hercynian forest ( de Bell , Gall . vi. 26). That the European winters were much severer than now may be gathered from Juvenal (vi. 521-3), Horace ( Od . i. 9, 1-4), and Ovid ( Trist ., iii. 10). Both the male and female have antlers, and these are not alike on both sides, the great palmated brow-antler being, as a rule, developed on one side only. In the winter the fur is long, grayish-brown on the body; neck, hind-quarters, and belly white. In summer the gray hair darkens into a sooty brown, and the reinforcement back. A full-grown animal can draw a weight of 300 lbs., and travel at the rate of 100 miles a day, its broad deeply cleft hoofs fitting it admirably for traveling over the broken snow. In winter the herds feed in the woods on the lichens which hang from the trees; in summer they seek the mountains in order to escape the mosquitoes and gadflies. "Remains of the reindeer are found in caves and other Post-pliocene deposits as far south as the south of France, this boreal species having been enabled to spread over Southern Europe, owing to the acce of cold during the Glacial period. It appears to have continued to exist in Scotland down even to the twelfth century."-Encyc. Brit . (ed. 9th), vii. 25. reindeer-mo , s. Bot., .: A lichen, Cenomyce rangi fer in a , which forms the winter food of the reindeer. It has erect, elongated, roughish, very much branched podetia, the alternate branches drooping; the apothecia sub-globose, brown, on small erect branchlets. It is abundant in the pine forests of Lapland, and flourishes even when they have been burnt. Reindeer feed upon it and dig for it when it is covered by snow. It tastes like wheat bran, but leaves a slightly burning sensation on the palate. It is not eaten by the Lap landers. It is the badge of the clan Mackenzie. [CLADONIA.]