132 RUMINANTIA. 



many parts of Germany, Poland, and Italy ; in the tempe- 

 rate parts of Eussia, in forests and reedy swamps, and is 

 very numerous in the Caucasus. Supposed to appear only 

 occasionally in Switzerland from the neighboimng coun- 

 tries, sometimes crossing the Rhine from France, but no 

 longer breeds there (Schinz). 



Order RUMINANTIA. 



Grinding teeth with their crowns marked with two 

 double crescent-shaped ridges of enamel ; the upper 

 jaw without cutting teeth, of which there are eight in 

 the lower jaw, except in the Camels, which have six 

 only; two hoofed toes on each foot, behind these are 

 two small spurs representing the lateral toes ; frontal 

 bones generally furnished with horns in one or both 

 sexes. 



Genus CERVUS. DEER. 



Grinding teeth six on each side in each jaw; no ca- 

 nines, except in the males of some species ; two branched, 

 or palmated, deciduous horns, generally confined to the 

 males. Feeds on vegetable substances. 



Cervus Aloes. 



Cervus Alces, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 662 ; Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As. 

 Elk or Moose Deer. 



Description. — The horns are palmated, at fii'st dagger- 

 shaped, afterwards divided into narrow slips ; and when 

 perfect, at the age of five years, they assume the form of 

 triangular blades, with tooth-like projections on their outer 

 edges ; these latter increase in size with the age of the 

 individual ; the head is long, narrow before the eyes, 



