ELIZABETH. See ENGLAND.
ELK. This is one of the larger animals inhabiting the globe, belonging to the genus Cervus, and order Peeora of Linnxus. The history of the elk is involved in considerable confusion, from which we shall find it difficult to lay down its specific characters, as those who have had the most favourable opportunities for observa tion are scarcely agreed concerning them.
This animal dwells in the north-eastern parts of Europe, in Asia, and North America, chiefly frequent ing the colder climates. In the latter country it is call ed the moose deer, or wampoose by the natives. It is said to consist of two kinds, the real elk or moose deer, which is larger than the tallest horse, and has been seen eight or ten feet high, of a dark grey colour, some times black, but much paler on the legs and beneath the tail ; the hair is long and coarse, ten or twelve inches in length on the ridge of the back, and forming a kind of mane on the upper part of the neck. There is a sort of carbuncle or excrescence pendent from the throat of some ; but it is not ascertained whether this is a general characteristic of the animal, or belongs only to the male. The tail is short, the eyes and ears are large and erect, and the hoofs broad. But the elk is chiefly dis tinguished by two wide spreading palmated horns of great size, proceeding from the forehead, between two and three feet long, or even between four and five in those of the greatest size ; and they have undoubtedly been seen in recent instances, though not so large, yet of such dimensions as to enable us to admit the proba bility of the fact. The other species is said to be smaller, and of a light grey colour, to herd in flocks of 20 or 30, and to bear more resemblance to the fallow deer ; whereas the moose is either solitary, or not to be found with above four or five in company. The motion of the elk is un like that of the deer ; it does not spring on being sur prised, it advances with a shambling gait, while the hoofs make a loud clattering, and runs with great speed. Its food is the herbage of the ground or the foliage of young trees It dwells on hills or in woody countries, ,sometimes chusing open pastures in summer, and re treating to thickets and the banks of lakes or rivers in winter. From the shortness of its neck and length of the legs, declivities are principally frequented, for the case of reaching the ground. In winter, it prefers willows and some aquatic plants. These animals breed about the month of April, and generally produce two at a time. The males are said to cast their horns an nually in November, and to renew them in spring : the females have none, and are besides very different from the males, in being much inferior in size, of a brownish sandy colour, the hair white at the root, and nearly so in some parts of the surface.
The elk is of a quiet, tractable, and docile nature. In its wild state it is harmless and inoffensive, and it is very easily tamed. When pursued, in crossing rivers and lakes it makes no resistance, and boys or women can then destroy it. Mr Hearne relates, that he re peatedly saw many as tame as sheep at the settlement in Hudson's hay, and that they would follow their keep ers, or come to meet them, in the same manner as the most domestic animal would have clone. At New York they have been broke to harness, and apparently not without success. The disposition of the animal renders it particularly favourable for such and it is not unlikely that it might be naturalized and domesticat ed in this island.
Of late years a description has been given by Dr Smith* of an animal of this genus, which he characterises as the real and genuine elk, and he deduces its charac teristics from four individuals, which were exhibited to him in America. The colour, he observes, is reddish in spring ; it then changes to greyish dun, afterwards to grey in autumn, and continues so during winter. The rump for six or seven inches from the tail is pale yellow, and separated by a blackish semicircular line from the rest of the body. The fore part of the legs and the nose are black, as also the under lip on each side. A mane about six inches longer than the hair of the rest of the body, and a beard on the throat and breast, are seen on the male in winter. He is provided with horns, which, according to Dr Smith, are not palmated, but consist of three principal divisions, and are cast, all except a pith or core, several inches long, in May. In about eight weeks they begin to grow, and according to the age of the animal a prong successively vegetates from the inside of each alternately. Under the lower angle of each eye is a large external oblique slit, nearly an inch in length, by means of which a whistling noise is produced. Two of the animals were males, and two females ; the former had a small vesicle on the external part of each hind leg, containing an unctuous matter, which they can open and anoint the sprouting horns : this was done regularly at four in the morning and at ten at night. These creatures ate ordinary vegetables, and readily received tobacco ; but as all were domesticated, no inferences could he drawn with regard to their food. At the same time it is said, that in the natural state they feed on the wild plant. All being young, at least not full grown, the extreme li mits of their size could not be ascertained ; a male, two years old, was 7 feet 3 inches in length; a female, three years old, 7 feet 9 inches long, and 4 feet 7 inches in height ; the ear nine inches long, the tail only three. The whole were taken in Upper Canada.