74 Fretp Museum or Narurat History — Zoo.oey, Vou. XI. 
The Indian name, Wapiti, for our Elk (Cervus canadensis), would be 
distinctive, but there is little likelihood that it will ever be popularly 
used. 
Many statements by ancient writers concerning animal biography 
are amusing, being undoubtedly derived from current popular traditions 
and tales of hunters and travelers. In their accounts of various species 
much space is usually devoted to describing the supposed medicinal or 
curative powers of different parts of the animals. In this connection 
we are informed that the hoofs of members of the Deer family are of 
value in the treatment of epilepsy, the left hind foot being especially 
recommended. Birt says: ‘“‘Ancient authors relate that the Northern 
People catch the Elk by watching the Opportunity when it falls down of 
the Epilepsy, and laying hold of it before it recovers Strength enough 
to put its left hind Foot in its left Ear, which cures it immediately; and 
it is that particular Hoof, forsooth, which is the applauded Remedy for 
the Falling Sickness.’”’ (Wonders of Nature and Art, II, 1750, p. 114.) 
Genus PARALCES Allen. 
Paralces Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., XVI, 1902, p. 160. Type 
Cervus alces Linn. 
Size large; antlers broadly palmate; no metatarsal gland; tarsal 
gland small; tail short; muzzle long, broad and overhanging; end of 
nose covered with hair except a small triangular bare space between 
lower portion of nostrils; a pendulous growth of skin and long hair on 
the throat; main hoofs long and pointed; lateral hoofs comparatively 
well developed. 
° 
Dental formula: I 28 Se 
4-4 
> Pm. 2-3, M. 3°73 a 49, 
0-0 33 
Paralces americanus (Crinrton). 
Moose. 
Cervus americanus CLINTON,* Letters on Nat. Hist. B iat. Resources of N. Y., 1822, 
p. 193. 
Alces americanus Jarvin, in Nat. Library, XXI, 1835, p.125. Mies, Rept. Geol. 
Surv. Mich., 1860 (1861), p. 222 (Michigan). Herrick, Geol. & Nat. Hist. 
Surv. Minn., Bull. No. 7, 1892, p. 270 (Minnesota). 
Cervus alces LapHam, Trans. Wis. State Agr. Soc., II, 1852 (1853), p. 340 (Wis- 
consin). STRONG, Geol. Wis., Surv. 1873-79, I, 1883, p. 437 (Wisconsin). 
Alce Americanus Hoy, Trans. Wis. Acad. Sci. Arts & Letters, V, 1882, p. 256 (Wis- 
consin), 
Alce americanus HouuisteR, Bull. Wis. Nat. Hist. Soc., VI, 1908, p. 138 (Wisconsin). 
* See Osgood, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XV, 1902, p. 87 
