The ELK.
The animal from which this drawing was made, was a native of Sweden, the dimenſions and other particulars of which we ſhall firſt enumerate.
The length of the head was two feet, the body three feet, and neck one; the total height was ſix feet, of which the legs were three; the ears were about twelve inches long; the general colour a blackiſh brown brindled, ſome hairs being brown, ſome white, and others partaking of both colours; the lighteſt colour was on the neck, and upper parts of the body; the knees of the fore legs, and inner parts of the hind legs white, which extended but little on the briſket; the hair univerſally very coarſe and thick; about two inches and a half long; conſiderably longer under the lower jaw, and along the upper part of the neck, reſembling an upright mane, which was longeſt and fulleſt over the ſhoulders; the tail not more than two or three inches, was nearly loſt among the hair of the body; the head long; the upper jaw about the noſtrils very full and chumpy. We have been the more exact in the particulars of this animal, few having been ſeen in England; we have knowledge of two only, one belonging to his Grace the Duke of Marlborough; the other now exhibited at Mr. Parkinſon’s Muſeum, London, from which this drawing was taken.
Of the general hiſtory of the Swediſh Elk, the following particulars have come to hand. In walking, the Elk carries its head nearly horizontal, and when paſſing the thick parts of the foreſt, the head is ſo diſpoſed that the horns lay cloſe upon the ſhoulders; thus the inconvenience of ſuch wide extended antlers is much avoided. The horns of this animal are reported to grow to very ſurpriſing dimenſions; the foſſil horns frequently found in Ireland are ſuppoſed to belong to the Elk, or an animal of that ſpecies: ſome have been found extending fourteen feet; thoſe to the animal here repreſented, were diſtant about four feet at the top; each horn having five tips, leads to ſuppoſe the animal was about ſix years old, and certainly not yet come to its full growth. The climate of Sweden in general, but of the northern parts in particular, being ſeverely cold, nature has not only provided a thick warm fur, but has ſo formed the under part of the hoof, with a very ſharp edge, that this animal with perfect ſafety can paſs over the ſmoothed ice. The race is not always to the ſwift, nor the battle, to the ſtrong, elſe this animal would be ſecure from harm; the bear and the wolf hunt it with ſucceſs, the ſhape of their feet, and the lightneſs of their weight, enabling them to travel the frozen ſnow with ſafety; while the flight of the intimidated Elk is impeded by frequently falling through the frozen cruſt, which not only ſtops its progreſs, but alſo wounds its heels; thus ſuffering from pain which is increaſed by repeated diſaſters, it happens ere long the enemy ſeizes it by the throat, and the largeſt European animal is conquered by one, not a quarter of its ſize, or weight. This animal, when defending itſelf, uſes not only its horns, but riſing on the hind legs endeavours to plunge the fore ones into the body of its adverſary.
It feeds upon herbage, prefers the aſpen tree, reſides on uninhabited iſlands, in large rivers, and on the banks of great lakes. The report of its ſpeed is, that it will travel 300 miles a day; the fleſh rather brown and coarſe, but good taſted.
