332 MAMMALIA— ELK. 



These animals are found in the Alpine mountains of Asia, Tonquin, and 

 Siberia, and about lake Baikal. In their habits and manners, they are very- 

 like the chamois and other mountain goats, leaping with great celerity, and 

 when pursued, taking refuge among the highest and most inaccessible 

 summits. Indeed, their favorite haunts are the tops of mountains covered 

 with pines, where they delight to wander in places the most difficult of 

 access. The flesh of the males is much infected with the taste of musk; 

 but it is eaten by the Russians and Tartars. 



They are hunted for the sake of their well known perfume, which is con- 

 tained in an oval bag, about the size of a small hen's egg, hanging from the 

 abdomen, and peculiar to the male only. This receptacle is found constant- 

 ly filled with a soft, unctuous, brownish substance, of the most powerful 

 and penetrating scent, and which is the perfume in its natural state. When 

 close, and in large quantities, the smell is very powerful and injurious. It 

 has been known to force the blood from the nose, eyes, and ears, of those 

 who have imprudently or accidentally inhaled its vapors; but at a distance, 

 the scent is usually considered agreeable. A grain of musk is sufficient to 

 perfume an apartment for a considerable time ; but in larger quantities it 

 continues to give out its scent for many years, and seems scarcely wasted 

 in its weight, although it has during that time filled the atmosphere to a 

 great distance with its particles. It is employed in medicine, particularly 

 in nervous and hysteric disorders ; and in those cases is found to be one 

 of the most powerful remedies in use. The quantity produced from each 

 animal is about a quarter of an ounce, and is found at all seasons of the 

 year ; but not in those that are young. 



Many thousands of these bags are sent over annually to Europe, besides 

 the great consumption which exists in different parts of the East; for 

 Tavernier says, that he bought, in one journey, seven thousand six hundred 

 and seventy-three musk bags. To account for which, it is supposed that 

 the musk is frequently mixed and adulterated with the blood of the animal. 



THE ELK, OR MOOSE,! 



Is a much larger, and a much stronger animal than the stag and the rein- 

 deer. It is usually larger, both in height and bulk, than the horse. His 

 hair is so rough, and his hide so hard, that a musket ball cannot penetrate 

 it. His legs are very firm, with so much motion and strength, especially 



1 Cervus alces, Lin. The genus Cervus has eight incisors below ; canines none, or 

 two above ; molars twelve above and twelve below. Canines compressed and bent back ; 

 head long, terminated by a muzzle ; eyes large, pupils elongated transversely ; a lachry- 

 mal sinus in most ; ears large and pointed ; ton?ue soft ; body slender ; four inguinal 

 mammae; horns solid, deciduous, palmated, branched, or simple in the males; females, 

 with one exception, withoi'. horns. 



