TAB. X.
C E R V U S ALCES.
C H A R A C T E H GENERICUS.
Corma folida, tenera corio hirto teda, apiceque crefcentia, denudata, annua.
Dentes primores inferiores oéio. Lafíiarii nulli (interdum folitarii fuperius).
L I N . SYST. N A T . p. 92.
C H A R A C T E R SPECIFICUS, &c.
Cervus cornibus acaulibus palmatis, caruncula gutturali. LIN. SYST. NAT. p. 92.
Cervus (Alces) cornibus ab imo ad fummum palmatis. BKISS. REGN. ANIM. p. 93. n. 9,
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Horns folid, covered while young with a hairy ikin, growing from the tips, naked, annual.
Front teeth in the lower jaw eight. Canine teeth none (fometimes fingle above).
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER, &c.
Deer with ftemlefs palmated horns, and guttural caruncle.
T h e Elk. MUSEUM LEVERIANUM, NO. I, tab. 8.
THE Elk is found in the coldeft parts of Europe and Afia, as well as in the northern trafts of
AmeHca, in which latter it is known by the name of the Moofe, and attabs to a fize ftill larger
than in Europe. The European Elk is principally iben in Sweden, frequenting the larger forcfts,
and browziug on die boughs of trees. It is commonly faid to be a mild and inofFenfive animal;
but, when attacked, defends itfelf with great fiercenefs and courage; ftriking its affailant
not only with its horns, but with its fore-feet. In point of (hape and general appearance the
Elk is the leaft elegant of its genus, having a fbort neck, and a fort of difproportioned afpciS.
The appearance of the horns in this animal, as in others of the deer tribe, varies confiderably
accordmg to age and other circumftances. In Ireland, and fome other parts of the world, are
frequently found, in a foffil ftate, extremely large horns, which bear tlie greateft analogy to
thofe of the Elk, and particularly to the American variety, or Moofe; but which are larger
than any ipecimens of the latter which have been hitherto obferved recent. Mr. Pennant, in
his Hillory of Quadrujieds, feems inclined to fuppofe them of a different origin from either the
European or American Elk, and peculiar to fome fpecies either extinft or as yet undifcovered.