246 - FAUNA AMER1CA^'A. 



viis canadensis Briss.) though it has also many 

 characters which distinguish it from all other 

 species living or fossil, which have hitherto been 

 introduced into the systems. The fossil consists 

 of a skull, but the greater portion of the face, 

 together with both jaws and teeth are destroyed; 

 the posterior portion, together with one side, is in 

 a tolerable state of preservation. 



Dimensions. The breadth of the cranium at its 

 narrowest part, which is behind the horns, is 4.65 

 inches; the greatest breadth, which is imme- 

 diately above the condyloid processes, is seven 

 inches ; greatest depth, from the top of the occi- 

 pital surface to the posterior margin of the occi- 

 pital foramen, is 5.25 inches; depth from between 

 the horns, through the sphenoid bone, is 4.7 

 inches ; length of the skull, from the superior mar- 

 gin of the occipital surface to the space between 

 the horns, 6.37 inches; the posterior or occipi- 

 tal surface of the fossil, bears a much closer re- 

 semblance to that of the Cervus canadensis, than 

 to that of the Cervus alces, or to any other spe- 

 cies. We shall, therefore, compare it with the 

 Elk. 



The whole skull is longer than that of the Elk; 

 the occipital surface proportionably broader; the 

 posterior and inferior base of the horns is concave 

 in the fossil, and the surface for the attachment of 

 muscles beneath the horns on the sides of the oc- 

 ciput, is much more extensive in the latter; the 



