. A general history of quadrupeds : the figures engraved on wood . andits eyes large and beautiful. The colour of the male is light-gray, interfperfed withlarge dark-brown fpots over the whole body ; the fpotson the female are of a pale-yellow colour. It is a timid and gentle creature, but not fwift; fromthe great length of its fore legs, it is obliged to dividethem to a great diftance when it grazes, which it doeswith great difficulty •, it lives chiefly by browfing on theleaves and tender branches of trees; it lies on its belly,and has hard protuberances on its bread and thighs, likethe Came
. A general history of quadrupeds : the figures engraved on wood . andits eyes large and beautiful. The colour of the male is light-gray, interfperfed withlarge dark-brown fpots over the whole body ; the fpotson the female are of a pale-yellow colour. It is a timid and gentle creature, but not fwift; fromthe great length of its fore legs, it is obliged to dividethem to a great diftance when it grazes, which it doeswith great difficulty •, it lives chiefly by browfing on theleaves and tender branches of trees; it lies on its belly,and has hard protuberances on its bread and thighs, likethe Camel; its tail is fimilar to that of an Ox, withftrong black hair at the end; it is cloven-footed, has noteeth in the upper jaw, and is a ruminating animal.—The female has four teats, and is lefs than the ^This animal was known to the Romans in early times. * M. Vaiilant, who fhot feveral of thefe animals, fays, thatthefe horns differ from thofe of the Stag or the Ox, in beingformed by a continuation of the bone of the fkull. H4 120 HISTORY OF THE ELK, [CerVns Alces, Lin.—VElatty Buff. Ts the largeft and mod formidable of all the Deer is a native of both the old and the new continent,being known in Europe by the name of the Elk^ and inAmerica by that of the Moofe-deer. It is fometimes ta-ken in the forefts of Ruflia and Germany; though it israrely to be feen, on account of its extreme like wife inhabits Norway, Sweden, Poland, and Tar-tary, as far as the North of China. It is common inCanada, and in all the northern parts of America. The Elk has been varioully defcribed by naturalifts andtravellers: By fome, it is faid to be twelve feet high jwhilft others, with greater appearance of probability, de-fcribe it as being not much higher than a Horfe. It is. HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 121 however, a matter of doubt to which a greater degree ofcredibility fhould be given. From a variety of Elks horns preferved in the cabinets of the curious, fom
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1800, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1800
