and of a hoary brown colour, not much differing from that of the Ass.

The pace of the Elk is a high, shambling trot; but it goes with great swiftness. Formerly these animals were made use of in Sweden to draw sledges; but as they were frequently accessary to the escape of such as had been guilty of murders or other great crimes, this use of them was prohibited under great penalties.

In passing through thick woods, these animals carry their heads horizontally, to prevent their horns being entangled in the branches.

The Elks are timid and inoffensive, except when wounded, or during the rutting season, when the males. become very furious, and at that time will swim from isle. to isle in pursuit of the females. They strike with both horns and hoofs, and possess such agility and strength of limbs, that, with a single blow of the fore feet, they will kill a Wolf or a Dog.

Their flesh is extremely sweet and nourishing. The Indians say, they can travel farther after eating heartily of the flesh of the Elk, than of any other animal food. Their tongues are excellent; but the nose is esteemed the greatest delicacy in all Canada. The skin makes excellent buff leather, and is strong, soft, and light the Indians make their snow-shoes, and likewise form their canoes with it. The hair on the neck, withers, and hams, of a full-grown Elk, from its great length and elasticity, is well adapted to the purpose of making mattrasses and saddles.

The methods of hunting these animals in Canada are curious. The first, and most simple, is,-before the lakes or rivers are frozen, multitudes of the natives assemble in

their canoes, with which they form a vast crescent, each horn touching the shore; whilst another party on the shore surrounds an extensive tract: they are attended by dogs, which they let loose, and press towards the water with loud cries. The animals, alarmed by the noise, fly before the hunters, and plunge into the lake, where they are killed by the people in the canoes with lances and clubs. Another method requires a greater degree of preparation and art. The hunters inclose a large space with stakes and branches of trees, forming two sides of a triangle; the bottom opens into a second inclosure, which is fast on all sides: at the opening are hung numbers of snares, made of the slips of raw hides. They assemble, as before, in great troops; and, with all kinds of hideous noises, drive into the inclosure not only the Moose, but various other kinds of Deer, with which that country abounds. Some, in forcing their way through the narrow pass, are caught in the snares by the neck or horns; whilst those which escape these, meet their fate from the arrows of the hunters, directed at them from all quarters. They are likewise frequently killed with the gun. When they are first discovered, they squat with their hind parts, and make water; at which instant the sportsman fires if he miss, the Moose sets off in a most rapid trot, making, like the Rein-deer, a prodigious rattling with its hoofs, and running twenty or thirty miles before it stops or takes the water. The usual time for this diversion is in winter. The animal can run with ease upon the firm surface of the snow; but the hunters avoid entering on the chase till the heat of the sun is strong enough to melt the frozen crust with which it is covered, and render it so soft as to impede the flight of the Moose, which

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sinks up to the shoulders, flounders, and gets on with great difficulty: the sportsman pursues in his broadrackets, or snow-shoes, and makes a ready prey of the distressed animal:

« As weak against the mountain-heaps they push
"Their beating breasts in vain, and piteous bray,
"He lays them quiv'ring on th' ensanguin'd snows,
"And with loud shouts rejoicing bears them home."

The female is less than the male, and has no horns. They are in season in the autumn; and bring forth in April, sometimes one, but generally two young ones at a time, which arrive at their full growth in six years.

WE have given a faithful portrait of this animal, from a living one lately brought from the interior parts of America. It seems to be very different from that generally described under the name of the Elk, or Moose-deer, to which it has very little resemblance. It seems, indeed, to belong to a distinct species, and is probably the Elk or Orignal of Canada and the northern parts of America.

At the age of five years, the length of this creature was nine feet, from the end of the muzzle to the insertion of the tail, the head and neck being extended in a line with the body: its height at the shoulder was four

feet six inches; length of the head, one foot six inches; breadth over the forehead, seven inches; length of the fore legs, two feet five inches; length of the neck, two feet six; its ears, nine inches; and tail, three. Its horns, which it had just shed, are not palmated, like those of the Moose they are large; and, when full grown, measure above six feet, from tip to tip. The antlers are round, and pointed at the ends: the lowermost antler forms a curve downward over each eye, to which it appears a defence. Its hair was long, of a dark dun colour on the back and sides; on the head and legs dark brown: Its eyes full and lively; and below each there is a deep slit, about two inches in length, the use of which we are unable to discover.

It was very lively and active; of great strength of body and limbs: its hoofs short, and like those of a calf; the division between them is less than in those of the Rein-deer; and, when the animal is in motion, they do not make a rattling noise. It has no mane; but the hair under its neck is longer than that on any other part of the body.

We were told by the owner of this very rare and beautiful animal, that it does not attain its full growth till twenty years old, and that it sheds its horns ever third year.