CONGENERS. 



Our study of the American Deer would be quite incomplete, 

 were we to omit a comparison of them with European species 

 and see whether we there find their analogies. I have pursued 

 this inquiry with some industry, and find nothing there, bearing 

 such a similitude to our mule deer, our black-tailed deer, our 

 Virginia deer, or our Acapulco deer, as to suggest a common 

 origin, at least in modern times, even in a geological sense. In 

 the form of the antlers there is nothing which suggests a near 

 relationship, although all are composed of the same material, and 

 are grown in the same way, and all are more or less branched, 

 characteristics which distinguish the Cervidae from all other rumi- 

 nants. 



In other parts of the world we find many species of deer with 

 important peculiarities, which are entirely wanting in all our 

 species. We have others, however, which are so nearly like 

 European species that we feel constrained to declare that there is 

 no specific difference between them. 



THE MOOSE AND THE ELK. 



The first of these which demand our attention are the Ameri- 

 can Moose and the Eui'opean Elk. These are not alike abso- 

 lutely, nor are the individuals composing the distinct varieties in 

 each country ; but the distinctions, whatever they are, must be 

 determined by the average of large numbers in each country, 

 when, we may fairly conclude, they arise from the different con- 

 ditions in which they have lived, during the many ages they 

 have been separated by impassable physical barriers. I present 

 an illustration of the Scandinavian Elk, and the reader can read- 

 ily compare with him the Moose at page 68. 



The American Moose is larger in size and darker in color than 

 the European Elk. These distinctions have been recognized ever 

 since the American variety was first discovered by those familiar 

 with the other variety. This is only ascertained by observing a 

 large number, for individuals may be found which, if considered 

 by themselves, would contradict the conclusion. There is, no 



