ELK, IRISH, Ifegaceros Ilibernicus, a large deer found in the pleistocene strata. There is a double error in its popular name, for it is a true deer, between the fallow and reindeer, and though abundant in Ireland, it is not peculiar to that country, being found also in England, Scotland, and on the continent of Europe. In Ireland, it occurs in the shell marl underlying the extensive turbaries. In England, lacustrine deposits and brick-clay contain its remains, and, associated with the mammoth and rhinoceros, they are found also in ossiferous caves. The most striking feature in this animal was its enormous antlers. A. straight line drawn between their extreme tips in one speci men measured 10 ft. 10 inches. The form of the antler differs from that of any living species of deer. The beam enlarges and flattens into a palm; a brow snag exists as in the fallow-deer, but in adult specimens, this bifurcates and expands somewhat as in the reindeer—a peculiarity never observed in the fallow-deer group. The antler is also fur nished with a back snag. Some idea of the enormous size and weight of the antlers may be formed from the fact that, in a specimen where the head weighed 51 lbs., their weight was 81 lbs. To sustain this, the vertebrae of the neck and the limbs are very much larger and stronger than in any other deer. A fine and almost perfect specimen of this animal, from the Isle of Man, exists in the Edinburgh museum.
ELK, MoosE, or MOOSE DEER, Alccs nzalchis, or emus alces, the largest existing species of the cervicke, or deer family, is a native of the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. When full grown, it is about 6 ft. in height at the shoulders, and sometimes weighs 1200 lbs. The body is round, compact, and short; the neck is short and thick, unlike that of deer in general, but thus adapted for sustaining the great weight of the head and horns. The head is very large, narrow, about 2 ft. long. The horns in males of the second year are unbranched, not flattened and about 1 foot long; as the animal becomes older, they begin to display a blade, with more numerous snags, and in mature elks the blade becomes very broad, the snags sometimes 14 on each horn; a single antler has been known to weigh about 60 lbs. The horns have no basal snag projecting forwards. The ears are long, and have been compared to those of the ass. The eyes are small. The limbs are long, and very graceful. The tail is only
about 4 in. long. The body is covered with coarse angular hair, which breaks when it is bent. On the neck and withers there is a heavy mane, and the throat is covered with Ion.. hair. A. large goitre-like swelling under the throat of the younger elks has a very curious appearance. The hoofs of the E., like those of the reindeer and of the buf falo, are so constructed as to part widely, and to afford a better footing on soft marshy ground or on snow; they make a clattering when, it runs. In running, it carries its muzzle forward, with the horns thrown back upon the neck, so that they may not be caught by branches. Its shoulders being higher than the croup, its common gait is a shambling trot; but it can also gallop with great rapidity. The color of the elk is brownish black, darker in winter than in summer; the limbs, the sides of the head, and the mane are of a lighter color than the body. Elks are sometimes seen in small herds, but often singly; they are now very rare in Europe, and are no longer found in parts of North America in which they were once common. They formerly extended as far s. as the Ohio. They are sometimes seen even on the shores of the Arctic ocean. They delight in marshy districts and in forests. When compelled to eat grass, they must get down on their knees to reach it; their proper food consists of the branches and foliage of shrubs and trees. They arc very timid and inoffensive, except during the rutting season. A single stroke of an elk's fore-foot is sufficient to kill the strongest dog. It is also an extremely wary animal, and is with the greatest difficulty approached by the hunter. Its sense of smell is very acute, and the slightest sound excites its alarm. It is, however, much sought after in North America. In Sweden, its destruc tion is prohibited; and in Norway is placed under legal restrictions. The flesh of the elk is esteemed a good kind of venison; the fat is remarkably soft; the nose and the tongue are reckoned delicacies. The skin is used for a variety of purposes.
The elk is easily domesticated, and was at one time employed in Sweden for con veying couriers, being capable of traveling more than 200 m. in a clay when attached to a sledge.
The elk of Ceylon is a deer of the group to which the name ruse has been given.