688 THE MOOSE, OR ELK. 
before we proceed to consider the various species of Deer which will be noticed in the 
present work. For a familiar instance, we will take the Common Stag, or Red Deer of 
Europe. 
In the beginning of the month of March he is lurking in the sequestered spots of his 
forest home, harmless as his mate and as timorous. Soon a pair of prominences make 
their appearance on his forehead, covered with a velvety skin. In a few days these little 
prominences have attained some length, and give the first indication of their true form. 
Grasp one of these in the hand and it w ill be found burning hot to the touch, for the blood 
runs fiercely through the velvety skin, depositing at every touch a minute portion of bony 
matter. More and more rapidly grow the horns, the carotid arteries enlarging in order 
to supply a sufficiency of nourishme ont, and in the short period of ten weeks ‘the enormous 
mass of bony matter has been completed. Such a process is almost, if not entirely, with- 
out parallel in the history of the animal kingdom. 
When the horns have reached their due development, the bony rings at their bases, 
through which the arteries pass, begin to thicken, and by gradually filling up the holes, 
compress the blood-vessels, and ultimately obliterate them. The velvet now having no more 
nourishinent, loses its vitality, and is soon rubbed off im shreds against tree-trunks, 
branches, or any inanimate object. The horns fall off in February, and in a very short 
time begin to be renewed. These ornaments are very variable at the different periods of 
the animal’s life, the age of the Stag being well indicated by the number of “tines” upon 
his horns. 
THE first group of Deer is that which includes the Deer of the snowy regions, and 
comprehends two genera, the Elk and the Reindeer. 
The Moose or ELK is the largest of all the deer tribe, attaining the extraordinary height 
of seven feet at the shoulders, thus equalling many an ordinary elephant in dimensions. 
The horns of this animal are very large, and widely palmated at their extremities, their 
united weight being so great as to excite a feeling of wonder at the ability of the animal to 
earry so heavy a burden. It does not reach its full development until its fourteenth year. 
The muzzle is very large and is much lengthened in front, so as to impart a most unique 
expression to the Elk’s countenance. The colour of the animal is a dark brown, the 
legs being washed with a yellow hue. It is a native of Northern Europe and America, 
the Moose of the latter continent and the Elk of the former being one and the same 
species. 
‘As the flesh of the Elk is palatable, and the skin and the horns extremely useful, the 
animal is much persecuted by hunters. It is a swift and enduring animal, although its 
gait is clumsy and awkward in the extreme. The only pace of the Elk is a long, swinging 
trot; but its legs are so long and its paces so considerable, that its speed is much ereater than 
it appears to be. Obstacles that are almost impassable to a horse, are passed over easily 
by the Elk, which has been known to trot uninterruptedly over a number of fallen tree- 
trunks, some of them five feet in thickness. When the ground is hard and will bear the 
weight of so large an animal, the hunters are led a very lone and severe chase before 
they come up with their prey ; but when the snow lies soft and thick on the ground, the 
creature soon succumbs to its lighter antagonists, who invest themselves in snow-shoes and 
scud over the soft snow with a speed that speedily overcomes that of the poor Elk, which 
sinks floundering into the deep snow-drifts at every step, and is soon worn out by its 
useless efforts. 
It is as wary as any of the Deer tribe, being alarmed by the slightest sound or the 
faintest scent that gives warning of an enemy. As the Elk trots “along, its course is 
marked by a succession of sharp sounds, which are produced by the snapping of the 
cloven hoofs, which separate at every step, and fall together as the animal raises its foot 
from the ground. 
Generally, the Elk avoids the presence of man, but in some seasons of the year he 
becomes seized with a violent excitement, that finds vent in fighting with every living 
creature that may cross his path. His weapons are his horns “and fore- feet, the latter 
being used with such terrible effect that a single blow is sufficient to slay a wolf on the 
