The polar and tropical worlds: a description of man and nature in the polar and equatorial regions of the globe . size it is far superior to the stag, but itcan not boast of an elegant shape, the head being disproportionately large, theneck short and tliick, and its immense horns, which sometimes weigh near fiftypounds, each dilating almost immediately from the base into a broad palmatedform; while its long legs, high shoulders, and heavy upper lip hanging verymuch over the lower, give it an uncouth appearance. The color of the elk is adark grayish-brown, but much paler on the legs and beneath
The polar and tropical worlds: a description of man and nature in the polar and equatorial regions of the globe . size it is far superior to the stag, but itcan not boast of an elegant shape, the head being disproportionately large, theneck short and tliick, and its immense horns, which sometimes weigh near fiftypounds, each dilating almost immediately from the base into a broad palmatedform; while its long legs, high shoulders, and heavy upper lip hanging verymuch over the lower, give it an uncouth appearance. The color of the elk is adark grayish-brown, but much paler on the legs and beneath the tail. We owe the first description of this gigantic deer to Julius Caesar, in whosetime it was still a common inhabitant of the German forests. But the conquer-or of Gaul can hardly have seen it himself, or he would not have ascribed to ita single horn, placed in the middle of the forehead, or said that both sexes are]ierfectly alike, for the female is smaller and has no antlers. At present theelk is still found in the swampy forests of East Prussia, Lithuania, and Po- ARCTIC LAND QUADRUPEDS AND 40 THE POLAR WORLD. land, but it cliiefly resides in the more northern woods of Russia, SiberiOjand America. It is a mild and harmless animal, principally supporting itselfby browsing the boughs of Avillows, asps, service-trees, and other soft spe-cies of wood. It does not, like the reindeer, seek a refuge against the at-tacks of the gad-flies, by wandering to the coasts of the sea, or retreating tothe bare mountains, where it would soon perish for the want of adequate food,but plunges up to the nose into the next river, where it finds, moreover, a spe-cies of water-grass {Festuca Jiuitans) which it likes to feed upon. Thoughnaturally mild and harmless, it displays a high degree of courage, and even fe-rocity when suddenly attacked ; defending itself with great vigor, not only withits horns, but also by striking violently with its fore feet, in the use of whichit is particu
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, books, booksubjectnaturalhistory
