Feb., 191 2. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 



73 



upper tines differing more or less in shape from those of previous year. 

 This animal was then killed, as he had become very ugly and bold. 



Antlers measuring from 50 to 55 inches may be considered the 

 average length of a good pair of an old bull, but up to 58 inches is not 

 unusual. The largest known Elk antlers are those recorded by Mr. 

 Seton, measuring 64 and 66 inches long.* 



The name Elk is used for the European cousin of our Moose which, 

 it is needless to say, is a very different animal from our "Elk." The 

 common use of the name for both species is sometimes confusing, but 

 there appears to be little chance of a new name being accepted for either. 



Map illustrating the supposed former and the present range of the American Elk or Wapit 

 (Cervus canadensis) in eastern North America. The species probably no longer exists in a wild state 

 east of Minnesota, and in the localities where it is still to be found in the West its numbers are 

 rapidly decreasing. In western Canada its former range extended northward at least to latitude 56°. 

 Other slightly different species occur on the Pacific Coast and in Arizona. 



In 1909 Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton estimated the number of living Elk in North America to be 

 about 45,650, distributed as follows: Yellowstone Park, 20,000; Wyoming (outside the Park), 5, 000; 

 Manatoba, 5,000; Idaho, 5.000; Montana, 4.000; Vancouver Island, 2,000; Washington, 1,500; Alberta. 

 1,000; Saskatchewan, 500; Oregon, 200; California, 200; British Columbia, 200; Minnesota, 50; in 

 various zoos, parks, etc., 1,000, (Life Histories of Northern Animals, I, 1909. p. 48.) 



This map is largely copied from that given by Mr. E. T. Seton in his Life Histories of Northern 

 Animals, with some slight changes based upon records and notes of the author. 



* Life Histories of Northern Animals, I, 1909, p. 58. 



