FOSSIL ELK OF IRELAND. 499 



But the assertions of Josselyn regarding the size of 

 the American moose have not been confirmed by the 

 testimony of later travellers, from whose observations it 

 is now clearly ascertained that the only large species of 

 deer inhabiting the northern parts of America are the 

 wapiti or Canadian stag (Cervus canadensis), the rein- 

 deer (C. Tarandus), and the moose or elk (C. Alces). 



The peculiar branching of the brow antlers of the 

 rein-deer, and the rounded horns of the wapiti *, are 

 characters sufficient to prevent us confounding either of 

 these animals with the fossil species. 



The palmate form of the horns of the elk gave greater 

 probability to the opinion of its specific identity with the 

 fossil animal. 



A little attention, however, to a few circumstances, 

 will shew a most marked difference between them. 



First, as to size, the difference is very remarkable, it 

 not being uncommon to find the fossil horns ten feet 

 between the extreme tips*p, while the largest elk's horns 

 never measure four feet. This measurement in a pair 

 in the Museum of the Royal Dublin Society, is three 

 feet seven inches : the largest pair seen by Pennant in 

 the house of the Hudson's Bay Company, measured 

 thirty-four inchest. 



The horn of the elk has two palms, a lesser one which 



* A fine pair of this species, male and female, were exhibited by Mr 

 Bullock in this city a few summers ago. They did not answer to any 

 description of Pennant or of Dr Shaw, but had the characters of C. ca- 

 nadensis as given by Cuvier. 



f Dr Percy, Bishop of Drumore, describes a pair which measured 

 fourteen feet by the skull. Archaeologia Brit. v. vii. 



%. Pennant's Zoology, vol. i. 



I i 2 



