126 
the elk, or moose. 
sionally to weigh eleven or twelve hundred pounds. 
The neck is remarkably short and strong, detracting 
from the elegant deer-like form of the femily; but 
this form is necessary, to support the weight of the 
enormous palmated horns, weighing from fifty to 
sixty pounds, which adorn, perhaps some will say 
isfigure, the front. Some of the other proiiortions 
are also rather clumsy, if separated. But if the 
w lole animal, “ the aggregate of his appearance,” as 
Mr Smith expresses it, be taken, it will certainly 
combine with the majestic scenery which surrounds 
It, and render it a fitting companion to the Ameri- 
can landscape. “ iho head, measuring above two 
feet in length, is narrow and clumsily shaped, by the 
swelling upon the upper part of the nose and nos- 
trils ; the eye is proportionally small and sunk ; the 
ears long and hairy, and asinine ; the neck and wi- 
thers are surmounted by a heavy mane, and the 
throat is furnished with long coarse hair, and, in the 
)munger species, encumbered with a pendulous gland : 
these give altogether an uncouth appearance to the 
animal. Its body, however, is round, compact, and 
short ; the tail not more than four inches long ; and 
the legs, though very long, are remarkablv clean and 
firm. This length of limbs, and the owrhanging 
lips, have caused the ancients to fancy that it grazed 
ivalking backwards. The hair of the animal is coarse 
and angular, breaking when bent. 
“ Its movements are rather heavy, and the shoul- 
ders being higher than the croup, it does not gallop. 
