THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
other Crown and private forests in the districts of Konigsberg and 
Gumbinnen, south of the Kurisches Haff. In the former district the 
Frischingforst contains a good stock of elk, but the best grounds begin 
at the south-eastern corner of the Haff and extend northward along 
the shore to the mouth of the Russ. In these regions, belonging to 
Prussian Lithuania, the forest districts of Tawellningken and Iben- 
horst are the chief resorts of elk. Tawellningken, unfortunately, is 
exposed to annual inundations, doing great harm to the game, while 
Ibenhorst, bordering on that district, is situated higher and gives more 
shelter. Although the stock in the different forest districts varies, the 
approximate number at Ibenhorst may be 100, and at Tawellningken 
from 60 to 70. In 1900 the number of elk in Prussia was estimated at 
about 300, which may well raise apprehensions as to the maintenance 
of this interesting species. In the Crown forests and on the estates 
of the aristocracy the number to be shot is precisely regulated, but 
among the peasants and farmers there is no great desire for the 
preservation of elk; moreover, this giant deer is a great temptation 
for any shooter or poacher, because venison, skin, and antlers can be 
sold at good prices. Prussian elk do not carry imposing antlers. In 
some districts, for instance at Ibenhorst, besides the shovel -shaped 
type, cylindrical antlers occur. Animals with such antlers are called 
Stangenelche, in contrast with the typical Schaufelelche. This abnormal 
development must be due to individual variation.” 
Elk became extinct in Denmark about the same time as in the south 
of Scotland. There is a magnificent example and another very good one, 
though somewhat broken, in the museum at Copenhagen. The former 
bears 30 points and is equal in size to modern New Brunswick moose, 
although the skull is of the usual elk size. 
The long prehensile upper lip of the elk show that it is a browsing 
animal, its food consisting chiefly of the buds, leaves and young shoots 
of various deciduous trees such as rowan, birch, alder and mountain wil- 
low. It also eats quantities of water plants, including the roots and leaves 
of water-lilies, etc. Mr Lydekker (“ Deer of All Lands,” p. 56) asserts that 
it is “ unable to graze like other deer,” but this is quite incorrect, for 
females especially often eat the coarse grass growing in swampy 
regions. I watched a young bull for some time so engaged in Manitoba in 
1908 and have received the following note from Mr Alfred Gathorne 
Hardy, who is a very accurate observer. 
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