Distribution of the Moose 



Ists uniform throughout its circumpolar distribu- 

 tion, in the north of both hemispheres. The 

 American view that practically all animals in this 

 country represent species distinct from their 

 European congeners is now generally accepted, 

 and the name Alces americanus has been given to 

 the American form. It would appear, however, 

 that the generic name Alces must soon be replaced 

 by the earlier form Paralces. 



The comparatively slight divergence of the two 

 types at the extreme east and west limits of their 

 range, namely, Norway and eastern Canada, 

 would Indicate that the period of separation of the 

 various members of the genus Is not, geologically 

 speaking, of great antiquity. 



The name moose is an Algonquin word, mean- 

 ing a wood eater or browser, and Is most appro- 

 priate, since the animal is pre-eminently a creature 

 of the thick woods. The old world term elk was 

 applied by the English settlers, probably in Vir- 

 ginia, to the wapiti deer, an animal very closely re- 

 lated to the red deer of Europe. In Canada the 

 moose is sometimes spoken of as the elk, and even 

 In the Rocky Mountain region one hears occasion- 

 ally of the "flat-horned elk." We are fortunate 

 in possessing a native name for this animal, and to 

 call It other than moose can only create confusion. 



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