HABITS OP THE ELK IN NORWAY. 23 



species entirely differ in appearance. According to 

 Pontoppidan, the elk in Norway is sometimes attacked 

 by epileptic fits, when the animal cures itself by open- 

 ing a vein behind its ear with its hind foot. 



In ancient times, the elk was captured in this 

 country by means of pitfalls. These were made large 

 and deep, and were generally near the water, so that 

 when the animal went to drink it tumbled in headlong, 

 and was taken. Many of these ancient pitfalls may 

 still be seen in Norway, and are scrupulously avoided 

 by the superstitious peasants. Nowadays the elk is 

 pursued by the hunter, who is armed with a rifle. He 

 holds a small dog of sharp scent in a leash, which goes 

 on before him. The keenness of scent of the elk is 

 remarkable, while its sense of hearing is so acute that 

 the breaking of a twig or the noise caused by the dis- 

 placing of a small stone will put it to flight. When 

 alarmed, it makes off at a swinging trot, and when 

 hard pressed it gallops. It never stops to look back, 

 but presses onwards, shrugging its shoulders, throwing 

 back its large ears, and holding its head rather de- 

 pressed. As it weighs as much as 1000 pounds, the 

 momentum given to it in its flight is very great. 



The elk is a ruminating animal, and only feeds by 

 day. It eats slowly, and when it has satisfied its 

 hunger, it lies down in some sheltered spot, generally 

 in the shade of some deciduous tree, and not far from 

 the water. Here it takes its ease, and ruminates like 

 the cow. Having a large and short neck, it ruminates 

 much more easily than the reindeer, whose neck is long 

 and narrow. 



Medicinal virtues are ascribed to various parts of 

 the elk by the Norwegian peasantry. Thus it is be- 



