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APPENDIX 



other part of Europe, and where it seems to attain a greater 

 size and vigor, if one may judge by the development of the 

 horns, than anywhere else in Scandinavia." Discussing the 

 relative size of elk antlers from different sections of Scan- 

 dinavia, Mr. Elwes said (p. 149) : "In North Trondhjems- 

 amt, where the elk a few years ago was extremely numerous, 

 much larger heads occurred, owing, I believe, to the much 

 greater quantity of mountain ash, which seems to be the favorite 

 winter food of the elk." 



When asked recently for his views on the subject of the 

 causes which will influence, favorably or otherwise, antler- 

 development in moose, Mr. Elwes wrote: ''Over-stocking, 

 whether of elk, red deer, or wapiti, is most prejudicial to the 

 development of the horns. ... I do not think that climatic 

 conditions are so important as abundance of suitable food." 

 Referring to the estimate that 5000 moose are now to be found 

 in the Superior and Quetico game refuges (see pages 363, 364), 

 or nearly one moose to each square mile, Mr. Elwes writes: 

 "I can hardly doubt that, unless the old cows, and bulls with 

 inferior horns, are systematically killed by approved hunters, 

 the same deterioration of horns will occur in a comparatively 

 few years which has taken place among the red deer in certain 

 parts of New Zealand." 



A pair of antlers spreading 54 inches, taken in Trondhjem 

 in about 64° north latitude, and having 9+9 points, is "the 

 widest, though not the largest, I have seen from Scandinavia," 

 wrote Mr. Elwes. 



If the large elk antlers of North Trondhjem are to be 

 associated with the abundance of mountain ash, one will 

 naturally query whether mountain ash is also the secret of 

 the great development of moose antlers on the Kenai Penin- 

 sula. Writing of the seasonal food of the moose and beaver, 

 Hon. George Shiras, 3d, remarks that both are bark eaters 

 in winter and almost wholly dependent on aquatic plants and 

 other perishable vegetation in summer. This provision of 

 nature tends to conserve arboreal growth. 



