146 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



natives. It is said to consist of two kinds, the real elk or moose deer, 

 which is larger than the tallest horse, and has been eight or ten feet 

 high, of a dark gray color, sometimes black, but much paler on the 

 legs and beneath the tail ; the hair is long and coarse, ten or twelve 

 inches in length on the ridge of the backhand forming a kind of mane 

 on the upper part of the neck. There is a sort of carbuncle or 

 excrescence pendent from the throat of some ; but it is not ascertained 

 whether this is a general characteristic of the animal, or belongs only 

 to the male. The tail is short, the eyes and ears are large arid erect, 

 and the hoofs broad. But the elk is chiefly distinguished by two 

 wide spreading palmated horns of great size, proceeding from the 

 forehead, between two and three feet long, or even between four and 

 five in those of the greatest size ; and they have undoubtedly been 

 seen in recent instances, though not so large, yet of such dimensions 

 as to enable us to admit the probability of the fact. 



It is probable that some species of these animals are extinct, 

 unless they remain in the recesses of those forests as yet unexplored 

 by the modern races of men. But we know from undoubted evidence, 

 that they once dwelt in countries, where they no longer exist, noi 

 does any tradition of them now remain. Horns of enormous size are 

 frequently discovered near the surface of the earth, or far below it, 

 which the present elk, though its neck be of great strength, would 

 almost seem incapable of supporting. Nor is it less singular, that 

 such remains are often associated with those of other animals so 

 different in nature, as to render it doubtful whether the living race of 

 both could survive together. 



ELM. There are about twenty species of the elm ; all inhabiting 

 the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere, and three of them 

 natives of the United States. The American white elm is found 

 mostly from the forty-ninth to the thirtieth parallel of latitude, is 

 abundant in some of the Western States, and extends even beyond 

 the Mississippi. This tree often rises to the height of one hundred 

 feet, with a trunk four or five feet diameter. At the height of fifty 

 or sixty feet it separates into a few primary limbs, which gradually 

 diverge, diffusing on all sides long, arched, pendulent branches, grace- 

 fully but majestically floating in the air. In many parts of the 

 eastern and middle States these trees are highly esteemed for their 

 venerable appearance, and for the refreshing shadows from their thick 

 foliage in the hot days of summer. When found on the public 

 grounds of the quiet village, in the spacious squares of the densely 

 populated city, and about the secluded country mansion, there is a 

 rural magnificence, and a delightful playing of the winds, which can- 

 not fail being appreciated by the lovers of nature and by all of good 

 taste. 



ENDOGENOUS. In some plants the additions made to their 

 growth takes place from the interior of the plant, and in some from 



