REINDEER, a very distinct genus Rangi fer, of Cert.:ides, unique in the possession of antlers by both sexes, though those of the fe male are somewhat smaller. The Enro-Asiatic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is the only domesticated species of the family. It extends over the boreal regions of the Eastern hemi sphere between about lat. 50° and 81°, and runs into several well-marked varieties. The reindeer formerly had a much wider geographi cal range and is probably the bos cervi figura described by Caesar as inhabiting the Hercynian forests. Its remains, are found associated with hippopotami in Pleistocene formations still farther south in. Europe. The antlers• are not alike on both sides, .the great palmated brow tine being, as a rule, developed on one aide 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 white parts become gray, owing to the shedding of the long hairs. To the Laplander the reindeer serves as a sub stitute for the horse, the cow, the sheep and the goat. It is extensively employed as a beast of draft and carriage, being broken to draw sledges or to carry men or packages on its back; the large race of Siberia and Kamchatka being used especially for the latter purpose. A full grown animal can draw a weight of 300 pounds 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 or grow upon the ground, to secure which the shovel-like brow tine and the hoofs are employed to scrape away the snow; in summer they move to the valleys to feed on the herbage and shoots, and in autumn they seek the sea coast in order to escape the mosquitoes and gad-flies, where they feed largely upon marine alga cast upon the shore. So important are these animals to the Laplanders that they, with their entire house holds, accompany them on these annual migra tions. In 1891 16 head of domestic reindeer were introduced into Alaska by Dr. Sheldon Jackson for the benefit of the natives who fre quently suffered for food and for purposes of transportation. The experiment proved so satis factory that importations were continued for 10 years, at the end of which time 1,200 had been brought from Siberia. In 1898 Dr. Jack son, as agent of the United States government, procured a colony of Laplanders to train the 'natives in the care of the reindeer. On 30 June 1915 there was officially reported a total of 70,243 reindeers in the Territory, distributed among 76 herds. Of the total 46,683 were owned by natives; 3,408 by the United States govern ment; 6,890 by the various missions, and 13,262 by Laplanders and other whites. The valuation of the reindeers owned by natives was $1,167, 075; of those owned by all others, $589,000i the total income of natives from their holdings, 1895-1915, was $369,407, of all others, $107,361; making the total valuation and income $2,232, 843, and the total government appropriation for the industry in 1893-1915 was $307,000; total gain, $1,925,843.
By European mammalogists the American wild reindeer or caribou, as they are called, are considered to be co-specific with R. toreador, but American students recognize two native species with some six or seven sub-species. The woodland caribou (R. carjbou) inhabits the wooded parts of British America and the United States border from Maine to Minnesota. It is larger than most varieties of the European reindeer, and both the brow and bez tines of the antlers are much palmated; those of the female are much smaller and little palmated. It frequents marshy regions and feeds leaves, grass and shoots, but in some localities at least, migrates northward in the winter in search of tree lichens (Usnea, etc.) and rein deer moss (Cladonia rangiferina). The latter is a valuable lichen, which grows in great abund ance in the north of Europe, particularly in Lap land, as well as on the tundras of Siberia and the barren plains of Arctic America. It con stitutes almost the sole winter food of the rein deer. Linnzus says it grows so luxuriously in Lapland that it sometimes reaches a foot in height. The reindeers scratch it up from under the snow with their feet and antlers. On this plant their existence, as well as that of the Lap landers, to whom they are indispensable, de pends. Its nutritive properties depend chiefly on the gelatinous and starchy matter of which it is largely composed. Its taste is slightly pungent and acrid. When boiled it forms a jelly pos sessing nutritive and tonic properties.
The Barren Ground caribou (R. arcticus) is a smaller species with larger antlers which oc cupies the more central and northern barren plains of British America. This species lives in herds of enormous size, said to rival even those of the bison of former days and migrates regularly. In the winter it moves southward to the wooded belt where it meets but does not mix with the woodland caribou, and in the spring returns to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. See CARIBOU.
Much interesting information concerning the habits of reindeer will be found in the narra tives of Nordenskjold and other Arctic trav elers. Besides these consult Caton, 'Antelope and Deer of North America> (Boston 1881) ; Lydekker, 'Deer of All Lands> (London 1898) ; Richardson, 'Fauna Boreali-Americana> (Lon don 1829) ; Jackson, 'Annual Reports on Rein deer in Alaska> (Bureau of Education, Wash ington 1892), and annual reports of the Secre tary of the Interior and the governor of Alaska.