1841.] true Stag^ or Elaphoid form of Cervus. 737 



production, which may be more conveniently distinguished by that ap- 

 pellation. A third tine (c) is given off midway up the beam, which was 

 termed the " royal" antler ; and the ramifying summit of the beam {d), 

 was styled the " crown," or " surroyal." I shall simply designate them as 

 the first and second basal tines {a, h\ the medial (c), and the crown ; 

 and may remark, that in the European and some other species, the last 

 assumes a more characteristic form than in the generality of Wapiti 

 Stag's antlers, (the species represented,) being generally trifid (as 

 in fig. 3, d,) with a disposition to subdivide further, more particularly 

 shewn by the innermost and hindward of the three coronal prongs that 

 issue from a common centre, and which is always longest, imparting a 

 lyrate curvature to the entire pair of antlers when viewed in front. 



These noble and picturesque animals are gregarious, and frequent 

 extensive moorlands, interspersed with bog and forest, more particu- 

 larly on the lower ranges of mountains, where indeed such tracts 

 usually occur. In general, or <with some modifications, the habits of 

 the British Red Deer may be presumed to illustrate those of all 

 the other species ; the gigantic Wapiti, perhaps, differing most in 

 its monogamous inclination, which, it may be, the nearly allied Jer- 

 rael Stag (C. Wallichii), of middle Asia, likewise evinces. The 

 geographical range of the group extends to both continents, but 

 is confined to the northern hemisphere; and, with the sole reported 

 exception of the Jerrael, upon the mountainous interior of the Burmese 

 territory, to the northern temperate zone ; with one established excep- 

 tion, however, they belong to the eastern continent. 



The American species, denominated the Wapiti f C, Canadensis, 

 Gmelin, C. Strongyloceros, Schreber), or *' Elk" of the Anglo-Ame- 

 ricans, by whom the true Elk (or Alces of Caesar) is termed Moose* is 



* The frequent mal-appropriation of vernacular names, such as is here noticed, 

 and which is a great deal too much encouraged by writers on Zoology, leads to continu- 

 al misunderstanding and mistakes, of which an instance is now before me, in the des- 

 cription of the true Elk, published in the Naturalist's Library, where an anecdote 

 related by Major Long and Mr. Say, referring to the Wapiti under its false name of 

 Elk, is assigned to the species properly so called. In South America, the same appel- 

 lation, Elk, is bestowed on the Cervus Paludosus ; in India, on the Sambur, CHippC' 

 laphus ; in the Malayan territories, on the C. Equinus; and finally, in South Africa, 

 the Caffrarian Impoof (a sheath-horned ruminant) is designated Elk, Eland, or 

 Eland'hok. " Eland" is the Swedish term for the true Elk, and signifies miserable ; in 

 allusion, no doubt, to the extremely plaintive and dolorous cry emitted by this 

 animal, rather than to its being subject, as alleged, to frequent fits of epilepsy, 

 which has been suggested to have induced the application of such a name. 



5 A 



