or Fossil Elk of Ireland. 307 



bend down with the hind legs till it slides over their back. 

 The male has horns three spans long, with strong broad troch- 

 ings, out of which people make hafts of knives, and turn han- 

 dles ; but the female has no horns." 



Now, regarding this account, Munster is evidently so dis- 

 satisfied, that in the remarks which he makes upon it, he states, 

 that " some who speak of the northern animals, would under- 

 stand this of another animal which the Latins call a hison, of 

 which I shall write something by and by in my account of 

 Sweden. For the elk," he adds, " has very strong legs and 

 broad horns with scoops, which are hollowed out like a large 

 deep shell, and which terminate in short teeth or points, from 

 which no knife handles can be made." — In order, therefore, 

 that the Cervus, regarding which he is so anxious to procure 

 information, may not be mistaken, he not only orders a sketch 

 to be taken of this mysterious animal, but he likewise annexes 

 a faithful representation of the true Northern Elk, (Cervus 

 Aloes) with the view that a comparison between the two might 

 be instituted ; adding, that the representation of the true Elk 

 (the Cervus Alces) was expressly made for him in Prussia. 



Little, therefore, now remains to be added upon the evidence 

 whichhas been adduced. It is decisive; and it shows, at the same 

 time, that the Cervus euryceros was in the sixteenth century be- 

 coming the rarest of the ancient tribe of European animals. Soon 

 afterwards, probably, the race became extinct ; — though even 

 upon this last question it would be premature to pass a judg- 

 ment, amidst our imperfect acquaintance with the inhabitants 

 of many of the wilds and marshes which still exist in Europe. 



But although the most satisfactory proofs are afforded of 

 the existence of the Cervus euryceros so lately as the sixteenth 

 century, we must admit that Munster has recorded little re- 

 garding him except what is conveyed in the valuable delinea- 

 tion which he has given. Few, however, as his notices are, 

 they may be considered in connection with what may be col- 

 lected regarding the animal from other sources of infor- 

 mation. 



It is rather curious that Munster, in drawing two animals 

 of this species of Cervus, which we shall presume to be male 

 and female, gives to each of them horns ; those of the animal 



