Johnson's Elk 59 



attain their full development by August. While the antlers are in velvet 

 elk are extremely fond of wading deep into the water, where they lazily 

 crop the spreading leaves of the yellow water-lily, or pull up its succulent 

 roots from the mud. An elk which lived for some time at Woburn Abbey 

 displayed this habit very frequently, and was often to be seen standing in 

 one of the lakes in the park up to its belly. American elk seem to be less 

 given to repose throughout the greater part of the day than are those of 

 Norway, and are stated to feed during the mid-day hours. As soon as the 

 antlers are free from velvet, the males leave the denser thickets to take to 

 more open ground, where they commence calling. This call may be 

 answered either by the challenge of a rival male, or by the softer note of 

 an expectant female. When about to give birth to her fawn, the latter 

 seeks a secluded situation fairly safe from the intrusion of wolves or bears. 



Elk generally run with a long swinging trot, which can be maintained 

 without any perceptible slackening for an incredible length of time; but 

 if forced into a gallop, they soon tire. " Formerly," writes Mr. Lloyd, 1 

 " these animals were made use of to draw sledges ; but owing, as it was 

 said, to their speed frequently accelerating the escape of people who had 

 been guilty of murder or other crimes, their use was prohibited under great 

 penalties. Though I apprehend these ordinances, if not abrogated, are 

 obsolete, I am not aware that elk are ever made use of in that kingdom at 

 the present day either to draw a sledge or for other domestic purposes." 

 In a later work [Scandinavian Adventures) the same author mentions that he 

 has known several instances of Swedish elk which were taken young becoming 

 as tame as domestic cattle ; and Mr. Caton bears similar testimony with 

 regard to the American elk. 



2. Johnson's Elk — Alces latifrons [Extinct) 

 Cervus latifrons, Johnson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. xiii. p. 2 

 (>8 7 4)- 



Alces latifrons, Lydekker, Cat. Foss. Mamm. Brit. Mus. part ii. p. 78 

 (1885) ; Dawkins, Brit. Pleist. Mamm. part vi. Cervidce, p. 1 [Pal. Sgc. 1887). 



Cervus alces latifrontis, Pohlig, Palceontographica, vol. xxxix. p. 238 

 (1892). 



Characters. — Probably closely allied to the next species, with which, 



1 Field Sports of the North of Europe, p. 336. 



