126 THE ELK, OR MOOSE. 



sionally to weigh eleven or twelve hundred pounds. 

 The neck is remarkably short and strong, detracting 

 from the elegant deer-like form of the family; but 

 this form is necessary, to support the weight of the 

 enormous pa'mmted horns, weigmng from fifty to 

 sixty pounds, which adorn, perhaps some will say 

 disfigure, the front. Some of the other proportions 

 are also rather clumsy, if separated. But if the 

 whole animal, " the aggregate of his appearance," as 

 Mr Smith expresses it, be taken, it will certainly 

 .combine with the majestic scenery which surrounds 

 it, and render it a fitting companion to the Ameri- 

 can landscape. " The head, measuring above two 

 feet in length, is narrow and clumsily shaped, by the 

 swelling upon the upper part of the nose and nos- 

 trils ; the eye is proportionally small and sunk ; the 

 ears long and hairy, and asinine ; the neck and wi- 

 thers are surmounted by a heavy mane, and the 

 throat is furnished with long coarse hair, and, in the 

 younger species, encumbered with a pendulous gland: 

 these give altogether an uncouth appearance to the 

 animal. Its body, however, is round, compact, and 

 short ; the tail not more than four inches long ; and 

 the legs, though very long, are remarkably clean and 

 firm. This length of limbs, and the overhanging 

 lips, have caused the ancients to fancy that it grazed 

 walking backwards. The hair of the animal is coarse 

 and angular, breaking when bent. 



" Its movements are rather heavy, arid the shoul- 

 ders being higher than the croup, it does not gallop, 



