THE ELK. 



differ in Ihape from thofe of the American and European Elk. Upon the 

 whole, this mull be confidered as one of thofe facts which want elucidation. 



This animal is found both in the old and new continent ; and 

 D'Obfonville fays it is alfo common in India, where it delights in woody and 

 marfhy places, and folitary vales ; and is always found in fmall herds, which 

 appear to be under the direction of a chief. It is called in Europe the Elk, 

 and in America the Moofe-Deer(A) ; it is rarely found in the forefts of 

 Germany and Ruflia, but is very common in the vail woods of North 

 America. The American Elk is larger than that which is found in Europe, 

 becaufe it meets with lefs dilturbance in the forefts of that unpeopled 

 country, and confequently attains a more full and perfect growth. "Wherever 

 it is found, it is timorous and gentle : content and happy in its lituation, it 

 readily admits other animals to a quiet and unmolefled participation of that 

 nourimment, with which the bountiful Creator has fo abundantly fupplied all 

 his creatures. 



The general colour of the Elk is a hoary black, except about the face, 

 where it is greyer. The head is much longer than the neck, which is 

 remarkably Ihort, in proportion to the lize of the creature ; hence it is 

 probable, that this animal feeds chiefly on the boughs and leaves of trees, as 

 grazing mult be a painful pofture to it : the ftructure of the upper lip feems 

 likewife to favour this fuppofition, which being conhderably longer than the 

 lower, ferves as a fort of hand to convey the leaves and boughs into its 

 mouth. They likewife feed on water-plants, which they can get at eafily by 

 wading ; and Mr. Sarralin fays, they are fo fond of the anagyris foetida, or 

 ftinking bean-trefoil, that they will dig for it with their feet, when covered 

 with fnow(B). The fliape of the upper lip is fquare, and it has a furrow 

 along the middle fo deep, as to make it appear to be divided into two parts ; 

 the eyes are fmall, the ears long, broad, and llouching ; the nofe is broad, 

 the noftrils remarkably large ; the neck is adorned with a thick, ihort, erect 



(a) From Mufu, which, in the Algonkin language, fignifies an Elk ; vide Kalm iter. Vol. III. 5. 10, 

 Germ. ed. de Lad. 73. 



(b) Martyn's Abridg. Mem. and Hift. Acad. iv. 253. quoted by Pennant. 



