74 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. XI. 



The Indian name, Wapiti, for our Elk (Cervus canadensis), would be 

 distinctive, but there is little likelihood that it will ever be popularly 

 used. 



Many statements by ancient writers concerning animal biography 

 are amusing, being undoubtedly derived from current popular traditions 

 and tales of hunters and travelers. In their accounts of various species 

 much space is usually devoted to describing the supposed medicinal or 

 curative powers of different parts of the animals. In this connection 

 we are informed that the hoofs of members of the Deer family are of 

 value in the treatment of epilepsy, the left hind foot being especially 

 recommended. Birt says: ''Ancient authors relate that the Northern 

 People catch the Elk by watching the Opportunity when it falls down of 

 the Epilepsy, and laying hold of it before it recovers Strength enough 

 to put its left hind Foot in its left Ear, which cures it immediately; and 

 it is that particular Hoof, forsooth, which is the applauded Remedy for 

 the Falling Sickness." (Wonders of Nature and Art, II, 1750, p. 114.) 



Genus PARALCES Allen. 



Paralces Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., XVI, 1902, p. 160. Type 



Cervus alces Linn. 



Size large; antlers broadly palmate; no metatarsal gland; tarsal 

 gland small; tail short; muzzle long, broad and overhanging; end of 

 nose covered with hair except a small triangular bare space between 

 lower portion of nostrils; a pendulous growth of skin and long hair on 

 the throat; main hoofs long and pointed; lateral hoofs comparatively 

 well developed. 



Dental formula: I ^^' C. ^^. Pm. ^^^ M. ^^=32. 

 4-4 0-0 3-3 3-3 



Paralces americanus (Clinton). 

 Moose. 



Cervus americanus Clinton,* Letters on Nat. Hist. & Int. Resources of N. Y., 1822, 



P- 193- 



Alces americanus Jardin, in Nat. Library, XXI, 1835, p. 125. Miles, Rept. Geol. 

 Surv. Mich., i860 (1861), p. 222 (Michigan). Herrick, Geol. & Nat. Hist. 

 Surv. Minn., Bull. No. 7, 1892, p. 270 (Minnesota). 



Cervus alces Lapham, Trans. Wis. State Agr. Soc, II, 1852 (1853), p. 340 (Wis- 

 consin). Strong, Geol. Wis., Surv. 1873-79, I, 1883, p. 437 (Wisconsin). 



Alee Americanus }!{o\, 'I'rans. Wis. Acad. Sci. Arts & Letters, V, 1882, p. 256 (Wis- 

 consin). 



Alee americanus Hollister, Bull. Wis. Nat. Hist. Soc, VI, 1908, p. 138 (Wisconsin). 



* See Osgood, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XV, 1902, p. Sy 



