82 ANIMALS OP NORTH AMERICA. 



the uses of which some of the members are exceedingly 

 expert and effective : in the deer family, including the elk 

 and moose, the fore-feet are generally the most destructive 

 weapon, the largest dogs being sometimes killed by a single 

 blow, and there are instances of several hunters in California 

 having met with a similar fate from the stamping of the Elk. 



Great confusion has arisen under this class, relative to the 

 species of North American Deer, partly from imperfect 

 observation, and partly from varieties dependent on age and 

 sex. In all the species, with the exception of the Reindeer, 

 the male only is crowned with horns or antlers. These 

 appendages are shed, or fall off, every year, but are renewed 

 with increased size, as the animal advances in age. The 

 peculiar mode in which the antlers are developed, and in 

 which the separation is effected between them and the head, 

 forms one of the most curious phenomena in the animal 

 economy. 



The ELK, or WAPITI (Cervus Canadensis) has been com- 

 monly confounded with the Moose, and with the common Stag 

 of Europe, and has passed under various authors' hands 

 by the name of Stag, Red Deer, Gray Moose, Wapiti, Round 

 Horn, Cariboo, &c. It is only very recently that it has been 

 distinguished as a separate animal ; and the confusion attend- 

 ing this varied nomenclature, has been rather increased than 

 diminished by those who have attempted its removal by 

 reconciling the discrepancies of books, instead of appealing to 

 the proper and infallible authority nature. 



Description. The size and appearance of the Elk are 

 imposing ; his air denotes confidence of great strength ; 

 while his towering horns exhibit weapons capable of doing 

 much injury when offensively employed. The head is 

 beautifully formed, tapering to a narrow point ; the ears 

 are large and rapidly movable ; the eyes are full and dark ; 

 the horns rise loftily from the front, with numerous sharp- 

 pointed branches, which are curved forwards ; and the head 



