THE ROEBUCK THE ELK. 55 



and the stag. The deer, in its different varieties, is a race of ani- 

 mals extensively diffused, and appears to be spread over almost 

 every part of the globe. The new world, where neither the 

 sb^ep, the goat, nor the gazelle, were originally bred, is known 

 tc have been the native abode of the deer. The whole continent 

 of America abounds with stags, and other animals of the deer 

 kind, in almost all their varieties ; and in some parts, the inhab- 

 itants have domesticated them, and find a rich supply of food in 

 the milk and cheese which they produce. Thus the same animal, 

 which in some countries, contributes only to the amusement of 

 man, is in another converted to his use, and supplies his wants. 

 This shows the diffusive bounty of the Creator, in rendering the 

 stores of Nature so various and abundant, that necessity, if aided 

 by industry and skill, is never at a loss for resources. 



THE ROEBUCK 



Is the smallest of the deer kind. Though formerly common, 

 the herd is nearly extinct in this country ; but in the mountain- 

 ous parts of Scotland, it yet abounds. The form of this animal 

 is elegant, and its agility astonishing : it bounds seemingly with- 

 out effort, and runs with great speed : in courage it is at least 

 equal to the stag, and its subtle artifices, when hunted, are proofs 

 of its cunning : it turns repeatedly, till it has, by its various zig- 

 zags, entirely confused the scent. The crafty animal thus con 

 founds the dogs, until they are completely bewildered. The roe 

 bucks do not associate in herds, like other deer, but live in sepa- 

 rate tribes. The female goes five months arid a half with young; 

 it comes to perfection in two, and lives about fifteen, years. 



THE ELK 



Is a native both of the old and new continent, being known in 

 Europe by the name of the Elk, and in America by that of the 

 moose deer. It is the largest of all the deer kind, and, accord- 

 ing to some accounts, exceeds in size every other quadruped. 

 The latter assertion, however, seems to be of doubtful authority; 

 for naturalists vary considerably in their descriptions of this ani- 

 mal ; and while some aflirm that it grows to the height of twelve 

 feet, others describe it as not much exceeding the size of the 

 horse. When so much disagreement is found, either in descrip- 

 tion or narrative, the degree of credibility remains problemat- 

 ical. Those who speak of the enormous moose deer, say, that 

 their horns are six feet long, and above ten feet asunder at the 

 top ; and from a variety of these horns, preserved in the cabi- 

 nets of the curious, there is every reason to conclude, that the 

 animal to which they belonged, must have been of an enormous 

 size and great strength. Those also, who have traversed and 



