74 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



species. In America, it resides between the forty-fourth 

 and fifty-third degree, round the Great Lakes and over the 

 whole of Canada and New Brunswick. 



Its movements are rather heavy, and the shoulders being 

 higher than the croup, it does not gallop, but shuffles or 

 ambles along, its joints cracking at every step, with a 

 sound heard to some distance*. Increasing its speed, the 

 hind feet straddle to avoid treading on its fore-heels, toss- 

 ing the head and shoulders like a horse, about to break from 

 a trot to a gallop. It does not leap, but steps without effort 

 over a fallen tree, a gate, or a split fence. During its pro- 

 gress it holds the nose up, so as to lay the horns horizon- 

 tally back. This attitude prevents its seeing the ground 

 distinctly, and as the weight is carried very high upon his 

 elevated legs, it is said sometimes to trip by treading on 

 its fore-heels, or otherwise, and occasionally to give itself 

 a heavy fall. It is probably owing to this occurrence, that 

 the Elk was believed by the ancients and the vulgar, to have 

 frequent attacks of epilepsy, and to be obliged to smell its 

 hoof before it could recover ; hence the Teutonic name of 

 Elend, (miserable t>) and the reputation, especially of the 

 fore-hoofs, as a specific against the disease. 



During the winter months the Elk resides chiefly in hilly 

 woods; in snowy weather seeking the covers, and in clear 

 the open spaces. In summer, it frequents swamps or the 

 borders of lakes, often going deep into the water to escape 

 the sting of gnats, &c, and to feed without stooping. Its 



* This sound is supposed to arise from the snapping of the points 

 of the hoofs against each other ; but in a letter to BufFon on the 

 similar sounds in the feet of the Rein-deer, it is asserted to take 

 place even when the animal does not lift his feet, but turns or leans 

 merely, more on one side than the other, and, therefore, that it lies 

 in the joints. 



f Another Teutonic name Elch (Elk) or Eilch is supposed to de- 

 rive from Heil, to heal, to be whole, and thus the Teutonic would 

 be the root of the Latin Alee, and perhaps the Greek Elaphos. 



