290 



FAMILY CERVID.E J ELK, REIN -DEER. 



sides of the river St. Lawrence ; and in summer it frequents 

 marshy districts, even feeding on grass that is actually submerged. 

 This animal is as large as a horse, sometimes larger ; it is ratnei 

 heavy in its aspect and movements ; but it possesses great power. 

 The antlers of the male are, when fully formed, extremely "large, 

 and weigh 50 or 60 Ibs. This development, however, is only 

 gradually attained. The first year, they are not more than an 

 inch in length, and the second they rise to a foot ; but they then 

 are simple dagger-shaped spikes, and are termed dags, or prickets. 

 In the third year they are forked ; and in the fourth, they are 

 .somewhat flattened, and have six snags or projections : the 

 number of these goes on increasing after each change, until the 

 horns become extremely flattened, and possess 14 branches on 

 each side. 



261. The Rein-deer is the only species of this family, which 

 ean be considered as domesticated ; and this condition does not 



FIG. 147. HEIN UKEK. 



seem natural to it, for the domesticated individuals are smaller 

 than the wild ones, even though better fed. In the wild state, 

 the full-grown male is equal in size to a Stag ; but it is a 

 much less graceful animal, the neck being very short, the head 

 carried in a line with the Lody, and the general aspect heavy 



