142 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



period they expand with such rapidity^ that their growth 

 exceeds an inch and a half per day. In an individual 

 he alludes to^ the horns, of six antlers each^ measured 

 three feet long; another, five feet ; and one mentioned by 

 M. Cuvier, even exceeded six feet. Authors seem to 

 he of opinion that the Canadian stag (C Canadensis) is 

 a small variety of the wapiti ; but we by no means 

 consider that this fact is established, notwithstanding the 

 comparisons made of their horns by baron Cuvier. In 

 the size, and in the locality of the two animals, there is 

 an essential difference : the Canadian stag is always 

 smaller, and lives in deep forests and rocky mountains ; 

 while the wapiti is admitted by major Smith to be 

 '' heavier in body, his legs shorter, his horns longer and 

 slenderer, and he lives in the savannahs and plains of 

 the interior." * All the true wapitis seen by major Smith, 

 had the tail very short ; but some writers, who mention 

 the Canadian stag and the wapiti as one, say that the tail 

 varies from two to four inches : this difference will pro- 

 bably be found hereafter to be specific. 



The American Moose Deer. 



Cervus (Alces), North. Zool. i. 232. Americans. 



Dr. Richardson and major Smith appear to be the 

 only naturahsts who have expressed a suspicion that the 

 American moose was a different animal to the European 

 elk. The imperfect state, however, of our national 

 museums, rendered it impossible for these naturalists to 

 ascertain the fact by any difference of outward structure, 

 since no preserved specimens of the two kinds could be 

 consulted. It has therefore been left, as is usually the 

 case, for a foreigner to establish the distinction. We 

 had the pleasure of seeing this gentleman, when he came 

 to the British Museum, in the hopes of satisfying his 

 inquiries; but, alas ! no elk, either European or Ame- 

 rican, was to be seen. We remember he pointed out 

 the distinctions of the two with great judgment and skill ; 



* Griff. Cuv. iv. 497. 



