Chap. 16.] 
AI^IMALS OF THE NORTH. 
263 
possessed of remarkable strength and swiftness. To these, the 
vulgar, in their ignorance, have given the name of bubalus 
whereas, that animal is really produced in Africa, and rather 
bears a resemblance to the calf and the stag. 
CHAP. 16. THE ANIMALS OF THE NOKTH ; THE ELK, THE 
ACHLIS, AND THE BONASTJS. 
The North, too, produces herds of wild horses, as Africa and 
Asia do of wild asses ; ^ there is, also, the elk, which strongly 
resembles our steers, except that it is distinguished by the 
length of the ears and of the neck. There is also the achlis,^^ 
which is produced in the island of Scandinavia ; it has never 
been seen in this city, although we have had descriptions of 
it from many persons ; it is not unlike the elk, but has no 
joints in the hind leg. Hence, it never lies down, but reclines 
against a tree while it sleeps ; it can only be taken by pre- 
viously cutting into the tree, and thus laying a trap for it, as 
otherwise, it would escape through its swiftness. Its upper lip 
is so extremely large, for which reason it is obliged to go back- 
wards when grazing ; otherwise, by moving onwards, the lip 
would get doubled up. In Pseonia, it is said, there is a wild 
sidered as confirming the opinion, that both animals were in existence when 
Pliny wrote. — B. 
^ This appears to have been a species of antelope, the Antelope bubalus 
of Linnaeus. Cuvier observes, that Strabo places it among the gazelles, 
and Aristotle associates it with the stag and the deer, while Oppian's de- 
scription of the urus, agrees with those of the gazelle. — B. 
We learn from various travellers, that there are troops of wild horses 
and asses in many parts of Tartary and the neighbouring countries ; but 
It is doubtful whether they have proceeded from an original wild stock, or 
may not have been the produce of some individuals which had accidentally 
escaped from the domestic state. — B. 
No doubt Pliny has fallen into an error on this subject, and his elk 
and achlis are, in reality, the same animal. The description of the latter, 
for the most part, applies to the former, with the exception of the want 
of joints in the legs, which is entirely without foundation. Cjesar's ac- 
count of the elk. Bell. Gall. B. vi. c. 27, agrees generally with Pliny's 
account of the achlis ; he also says, that the legs of the alces are " with- 
out articulations and joints." 
The Romans had but a very imperfect knowledge of the Scandinavian 
peninsula. They supposed it to be surrounded by the ocean, and to be com- 
posed of many islands, which Ptolemy calls Scandiae. Of these, the largest 
bore especially the name of Scandia or Scandinavia, by which name the 
modern Sweden was probably indicated. See B. iv. c. 30. 
