The Rusine type (1), in which the brow-tyne (A) is simple, at the same time that the beam ends in a simple bifurcation, is found in the Sambur Deer (Rusa Aristotelis) of India. The Rucervine type, in which the bifurcate beam is further subdivided, tends to be prolonged in the direction of the tres-tyne (B), at the same time that there is a corresponding reduction of the royal (C). In Schomburgk’s Deer (Rucervus Schomburgki) of Siam, both branches of the beam are equally developed (2); in the Swamp Deer (Rucervus Duvaucelli) of India (3), the tres (B) is larger than the royal (C); whilst in Eld’s Deer (Rucervus Eldi) (4), of Burmah, there is but a small snag (C) at the back of the enormous tres-tyne (B) to represent the royal. The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) (6), besides having the brow-tyne (A) re-duplicated, has the royal (C) developed at the expense of the tres (B), and much divided up in well-grown animals. In the Japanese Deer (Cervus sika) (5) and its allies the relative proportions of the tynes are much the same, although the brow-tyne (A) is simple.
THE ELK, OR MOOSE DEER.[29]
The Elk, the largest of the family of the Cervidæ, is found in North America, Northern Europe, and the coldest parts of Asia, thinly scattered in all but the first-named locality. At the shoulder it may attain so great a height as eight feet when adult. The female is antler-less. In the male these appendages possess quite a peculiar shape, the two together forming a kind of basin, on account of their being developed into huge palmated concave sheets of bony tissue, which diverge laterally from the skull.
ELK HUNT.
⇒
LARGER IMAGE
YOUNG ELK.
At nine months old the antlers first appear, not being more than straight and rounded dags in the first year. They reach their full length in the fifth year, from which period for many more years they increase in breadth and weight, and add, it is said, a fresh point to their palmated margins until the fourteenth, when the creature is considered quite adult.