332 MAMMALIA—ELK. 
These animals are found in the Alpine mountains of Asia, Tonquin, anu 
Siberia, and about Jake Baikal. In their habits and manners, they are very 
like the chamois and-other mountain goats, leaping with great celerity, and 
when pursued, taking refuge among the highest and most inaccessible 
summits. Indeed, their favorite haunts are the tops of mountains covered 
with pines, where they delight to wander in places the mest difficult of 
access. The flesh of the males is much infected with the taste of musli; 
but it is eaten by the Russians and Tartars. 
They are hunted for the sake cf their well known perfume, which is con- 
tained in an oval bag, about the size of a small hen’s egg, hanging from the 
abdomen, and peculiar to the male only. This receptacle is found constant- 
ly filled with a soft, unctuous, brewnish substance, of the most powerfus 
and penetrating scent, and which is the perfume in its natural state. When 
close, and in large quantities, the smell is very powerful and injurious. It 
has been known to force the blood from the nose, eyes, and ears, of those 
who have imprudently or accidentally inhaled its vapors; but at a distance, 
the scent is usually considered agreeable. A grain of musk: is sufficient to 
perfume an apartment for a considerable time; but in larger quantities it 
continues to give out its scent for many years, and seems scarcely wasted 
in its weight, although it has during that time filled the atmosphere to a 
great distance with its particles. It is employed in medicine, particularly 
in nervous and hysteric disorders; and in those cases is found to be one 
of the most powerful remedies in use. The quantity produced from each 
animal is about a quarter of an ounce, and is found at all seasons of the 
year; but not in those that are young. 
Many thousand these bags are sent over -annually to Europe, besides 
the great consumption which exists in different parts of the East; for 
Tavernier says, that he bought, in one journey, seven thousand six hundred 
and seventy-three musk bags. To account for which, it is supposed that 
the musk is frequently mixed and adulterated with the blood of the animal. 
THE ELK, OR MOOSE) 
Is a much larger, and a much stronger anima: than the stag and the rein- 
deer. It is usually larger, both in height and bulk, than the horse. His 
hair 1s so rough, and his hide so hard, that a musket ball cannot penetrate 
it. His legs are very firm, with so much motion and strength, especially 
1 Cervus alces, Lin. The genus Cervus has eight incisors below; canines none, or 
two above; molars twelve above and twelve below. Canines compressed and bent back ; 
head long, terminated by a muzzle; eyes large, pupils elongated transversely ; a lachry- 
mal sinus in most; ears large and pointed; tongue soft; body slender; four inguina) 
mamme ; horns solid, deciduous, palmated, branched, or simple in the males; femates, 
with one exception, without horns. 
