ELK (AS. etch, Teel. elgr, OHG. elaho, elk, Ger. Eleh, whence probably Lat. alees. Gk. Cam, elk). (1) The greatest forest-deer (Alves mulch is) of the northern regions of Europe. Asia, and America. and the largest existing representa tive of the family. It is known in America as the moose. under which name its characteristics are described. In the Old World it formerly ranged throughout all the forested region north of the mountains from England to eastern Siberia, and it still occurs rarely in Scandinavia, eastern Prussia, Lithuania, and parts of Russia, while it remains fairly 1111111(.1'011s in western Siberia ; everywhere in Europe it is protected by and in most cases is absolutely preserved on royal estates, where a hunt is organized at intervals of several years. It may easily he tamed. and has at various times been put to service. as when, many years ago, it was trained in Sweden to draw sledges in the Government's courier service. See MOOSE.
(2) The American 'elk,' unfortunately so named by the early colonists of the United States, has no resemblance to the Eurpean broad-horned (leer, properly so called above) but rather resembles the red deer. (See DEEn.) It is
scribed under its suitable Indian name. See (3) The Trish 'elk' (Cerrus or Meyaerros gi [taulens) is another misnamed deer. which be came extinct apparently soon after the advent of man in Europe. Its remains are found not only in the bogs of Ireland, hut in caves and super ficial deposits of England. Scotland. and the middle parts of the Continent. It was closely allied to the fallow deer. hut of nmeh greater size, standing six feet in height, with unusually strong bones about the head and neck. suitable for carrying the enormous antlers which char acterized it. These were broadly palmated, and were so wide-spreading as to measure. in some known instances, almost eleven feet from tip to tip. Complete skeletons are possessed by most museums. and its bones have been found asso ciated with the evidences of man's presence, showing that it survived his arrival, and that its extermination was probably completed by )uman agency. Another extinct specie: (Ocreas MOO, of central Europe. takes a place between this species and the fallow deer. See DEER, and Plate of NORTH AltEnicxx