1902.] VARIATION OF THE ELK. 353 



]ion-palinated Elks to be degeiieiute stags. The lattei- theoiy 

 accounts both foi- the diflei'ence in external appearance and fov the 

 difleience in the breeding-time, &c. ; an elk in its prime being always 

 earlier than a degenerate animal in I'utting and shedding. From 

 the depai-tment of Gi'odno, ElJv with and without palmation, as well 

 as intermediate forms, have also been reported. Some elk-antlers 

 from the Ural ai-e said to be fully palmated, while others are of 

 the inteiiiiediate type. 



The intei'est in regai'd to the variation of the Elk has, howevei-, 

 been intensified during the present year, owing to the circumstance 

 that Mr. Lydekker (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1902, vol. i. p. 107) has named 

 a new species (Alces hedfordice) from Siberia, the chief character- 

 istic of which is the non-palmated antlers. Knowing how much 

 the Swedish Elk ^-aries in regard to its antlers, it has seemed to me 

 that the type of antler displayed by Alces hedfordice falls within 

 the range of variation of the common Elk, and I have therefoi'e 

 contributed the following notes to the Society. They are based 

 on the study of a large number of elk-antlei-s from different parts 

 of Sweden ; and I have this autumn specially studied no less than 

 32 elk-heads sent to Mr. G. Kolthofi's establishment in Upsala to be 

 mounted. From these I have selected nine, figures of which ai'e 

 here photographically reproduced on the same scale. Three of 

 these pairs belong to the true "'palmate" tyj^e, three to the "cer- 

 vine " type, and two to the intermediate, while one is anomalous. 

 The "palmate" and "cervine" antlers have been so selected 

 as to foi'm two series, each of the three specimens representing 

 difierent ages. The two "intermediate " specimens belong to adult 

 animals which ought to have their characteristics fully developed. 

 All the heads belonged to Elk shot this autumn in the eastern 

 part of Central Sweden within the following limits : namely, from 

 the central district of Gestrikland in the north, to northern 

 Ostergotland in the south and to Nevike in the west ' ; all being 

 thus within a small area foi- such a widely distributed animal as the 

 Elk. Climatic and othei- physical conditions do not vary much 

 Avithin the area in question ; and the valuation in the dift'ei-ent 

 specimens is thei'efore all the moie striking. 



The palmated series is repi'esented by text-figs. 68-70. Text- 

 fig. 68 shows the yomigest paii-, which has not developed moi'e thaii 

 three tines to each antler, but displays, nevertheless, a ratliei- 

 bi'oad palmation for such an early stage. This pair is from Upland. 

 Text-fig. 69 _ represents a somewhat older jjair from FinspJing in 

 Northei-n Ostergotland. The posterior or upper palmation is well 

 developed, with four points on the right and five on the left. The 

 anterioi' bi-anch displays two points and an incipient ^^almation 

 on the right side, but only a strong tine on the left. Text-fig. 70 

 (p. 355) shows the antlers of a still older and better developed stag, 

 with large posterior as well as anterior palmations. The latter have 



'^ These limits may also be expressed in the following- way : — Northern limit 60° 

 40' N. ; Southern 59° 30' N. ; Western about 15° E. (Greenwich). 



Proc!. Zool. Soc— 1902, Vol. II. No. XXIII. 23 



