42 CERVID^. 



of the antlers are closely similar ;* the colour of the 

 hair, the nature of the food, and the general habits of 

 the two animals are precisely alike : and in Asia, where, 

 I believe, they occupy nearly the same latitudes as in 

 Europe, even the difference in size ceases to be observ- 

 able, and the identity is complete. 



Though, generally speaking, the latitudes inhabited 

 by the European animal range rather higher than those 

 occupied by the Moose, the climate and temperature 

 will be found to be nearly the same in both cases. 

 According to the just quoted writer, the entire range 

 of the North American animal " extends, at the present 

 day, on the west coast, from the shores of the Arctic 

 Ocean nearly to the Columbia River. Further east, the 

 northern limit is about latitude 65°, and thence through 

 Canada to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the 

 northern parts of the State of New York, where a few 

 are killed every year, although, owing to the com- 

 paratively inaccessible nature of their resorts, their 

 pursuit has become extremely difficult." 



That the Old "World Elk formerly covered a much 

 more extensive area than at the present day, is manifest 



* Baird, in his " Zoology of the Pacific Routes," says an extensive 

 series of horns from Sweden, though somewhat different from the 

 American ones he had compared with them, yet furnish nothing of 

 apparent specific value. 



