Distribution of the Moose 



Republished by permission from the Seventh Annual Report of the Forest, 

 Fish and Game Commission of the State of New York. 



The Scandinavian elk, which is closely related 

 to the American moose, was known to classical an- 

 tiquity as a strange and ungainly beast of the far 

 north ; especially as an inhabitant of the great Teu- 

 toborgian Forest, which spread across Germany 

 from the Rhine to the Danube. The half mythical 

 character which has always clung to this animal is 

 well illustrated in the following quotation from 

 Pliny's Natural History, Book 8, chapter i6: 



"There is also the achlis, which is produced in 

 the island of Scandinavia. It has never been seen 

 in this city, although we have had descriptions of it 

 from many persons ; it is not unlike the elk, but has 

 no joints in the hind leg. Hence it never lies 

 down, but reclines against a tree while it sleeps; it 

 can only be taken by previously cutting into the 

 tree, and thus laying a trap for it, as, otherwise, it 

 would escape through its swiftness. Its upper lip 

 Is so extremely large, for which reason it is obliged 

 to go backwards when grazing; otherwise by mov- 

 ing onwards, the lip would get doubled up." 

 Pliny's achlis and elk were the same animal. 



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