From the preceding description, it appears there is a sensible difference between the real elk of naturalists and those of Dr Smith. The Cervus Pygargus of Pal las, which dwells in Russia, beyond the Volga, seems •to bear some resemblance to the latter, in having the muzzle and upper lip black ; the tail is only a cutane ous elongation, and the horns are trifurcated. But in other places he speaks of the elk in contradistinction to this animal.
There is a striking peculiarity in the nature of the elk, which has given birth to various conjectures. Wien sprung by the huntsman, it sometimes suddenly falls down as if in a fit, and then as suddenly recovering it self, sets off at great speed. An opinion has hence pre vailed, that it is subject to epilepsy ; and a part of the animal's hoof has been worn as an amulet or charm against that distemper. Horses, it is said, have been seen with the same peculiarity ; and we know there are among the smaller tribes of animals, some which coun terfeit death on being alarmed.
The elk is hunted in various ways, for the sake of its flesh and skin, and as the fur of wild animals is richer in winter, that season is commonly selected for its capture. The Indians near Hudson's Bay can easily run it down, for although endowed with sufficient speed, the elk is tender-footed and short winded, so that a good runner will generally tire it in less than a day, and fre quently in six or eight hours. However, the huntsman has been known to continue the pursuit two days, before coming up with the game. On such occasions the In dians go lightly clothed and loaded, in order to preserve them from fatigue. When the elk can advance no far ther, it stands and keeps the pursuer at bay with its head and fore feet : by means of the latter it can kill a dog or even a wolf, and people Who suddenly rush upon it, are in danger of serious injury ; therefore the Indians who want fire arms, or bows and arrows, stab the animal with a knife fixed to the end of a long stick. This kind of pursuit is much facilitated by the state of the snow ; for a heavy animal like the elk sinks deep at every step, when a thaw begins, while the huntsman is kept up by snow shoes on the surface. Snares are also set for the elk: its approach to lakes and rivers is watched, when it is shot with guns or arrows : clogs are likewise used in the chase, and there are various other modes of capture.
The flesh of the elk is good and nutritious, and the skin is converted to various useful purposes. It serves for covering the tent of the Indian, for his shoes, belts, and all the rest of his clothing, while ladles are made of the horns. The skin, when properly dressed, is pecu
liarly soft and even; but not being prepared with oil, it is said to become hard after having been wet, unless pre cautions are taken to rub it while drying.
It is probable that sonic species of these animals are extinct, unless they remain in the recesses of thos• fo rests as yet unexplored by the modern races of But we know from undoubted evidence, that they once dw..tt in countries, even in these islands which wL now inhabit, where they no longer exist, nor does any tradi Lion of them now remain. Horns of enormous size are frequently discovered near the surface of the earth, or far below it, which the present elk, though its neck be of great strength, would almost seem incapable of sup porting. Nor is it less singular, that such remains are often associated with those of other animals so different in nature, as to render it doubtful whether the living lace of both could survive together.
These enormous horns are probably more common in Ireland than elsewhere, and have certainly belonged to a species nearly analogous to that which dwells in the northern regions of the world. Of this description is a pair which Dr Molyneux long ago described in the Philosophical Transactions, measuring 10 feet 10 inches, from tip to tip ; each horn 5 feet 2 inches in length, and 1 1 inches in circumference at the root. Yet the head bore no proportion to these immoderate dimensions, for it was only two feet long, by one in breadth, or just about the size of that of the largest of the elks described by Dr Smith. But these horns do not seem of the largest size, as Mr Parkinson more recently speaks of one 12 inches in circumference at the root. The place of their deposit is usually among alluvial remains. Curie') a celebrated anatomist, has objected to the fossil horns be longing to the same species as the present elk, because, although palmated like them, the palms are higher from the head, and somewhat of a different figure. But if we are entitled to judge from analogy, the distinctions are not very remote; nay, on strictly attending to the di mensions of the heads which are discovered, inferences might be drawn that the ancient elk of the world was lit tle different from the recent elk in size. See Hearne's Journey from Hudson's Bay. Kalm's Travels in North .4merica. Philosophical Magazine, vol. vi.* Philosophi cal Transactions, vol. xxix. p. 31. Parkinson's Organic Remains, vol. iii. Pallas' Voyages, tom.i. p. 8. (c)