ELK or MOOSE (Alces alces), the largest of the deer tribe, inhabiting the subarctic forests of both the New and the Old Worlds, though the American form (to which the name "Moose" is properly restricted) is sometimes separated as A. americana. The distinguishing features of the elk are the huge palmate, pro jecting antlers, the long legs, the long fleshy muzzle, and the short neck. Despite its ungainly appearance, the moose can gallop at a considerable speed. It feeds on leaves and shoots of the willow and birch. During the winter the American race assemble in small herds, composed of a male and several females, and, by trampling the snow, form an open space known as a "moose-yard," in which they can move about with some freedom. Generally very shy, in the breeding season, which is in the autumn, the males become bold and fierce and fight savagely with antlers and hoofs. "Moose calling" is a favourite sport in Canada. In most parts of Europe and America the elk is now protected by law. In North America the name elk is commonly applied to the Wapiti (Cervus canaden sis). For "Irish-Elk," see FALLOW-DEER.
EL,KHART, a city of Elkhart county, Indiana, U.S.A., at the confluence of the St. Joseph and the Elkhart rivers, loom. E. of Chicago. It is on Federal highways 20 and 112; has an airport ; and is served by the Big Four and the New York Central railways. Pop. 24,277 in 1920 (92.4% native white) , and was 32,949 in 1930 by the Federal census. The city is pleasantly situated at an altitude of 7 5 7 f t., and within 3o miles there are about ioo lakes. A super-power plant eight miles west has a capacity of 300,000 h.p. Elkhart is a division point on the main line of the New York Central, which has large shops and classification yards here. The output of the factories of all kinds in 1927 was valued at $27,898,806. Chief among the manufactures are band instru ments (to a value of $7,500,000 per year), automobiles, railway and steamship supplies, iron, bridges, paper and sheet-metal pro ducts. The assessed valuation of property in 1927 was Elkhart was settled about 1834, and chartered in 1875.