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Show 1902.] VARIATION OF THE ELK. 353 non-palmated Elks to be degenerate stags. The latter theory accounts both for the difference in external appearance and for the difference in the breeding-time, &c. ; an elk in its prime being always earlier than a, degenerate animal in rutting and shedding. From the department of Grodno, Elk with and without palmation, as well as intermediate forms, have also been reported. Some elk-antlers from the Ural are said to be fully palmated, while others are of the intermediate type. The interest in regard to the variation of the Elk has, however, been intensified during the present year, owing to the circumstance that Mr. Lydekker (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1902, vol. i. p. 107) has named a new species (Alces bedfordice) from Siberia, the chief characteristic of which is the non-palmated antlers. Knowing how much the Swedish Elk varies in regard to its antlers, it has seemed to me that the type of antler displayed by Alces bedfordice falls within the range of variation of the common Elk, and I have therefore contributed the following notes to the Society. They are based on the study of a large number of elk-antlers from different parts of Sweden ; and I have this autumn specially studied no less than 32 elk-heads sent to Mr. G. Kolthoffs establishment in Upsala to be mounted. From these I have selected nine, figures of which are here photographically reproduced on the same scale. Three of these pairs belong to the true " palmate " type, three to the " cervine " type, and two to the intermediate, while one is anomalous. The " palmate " and " cervine " antlers have been so selected as to form two series, each of the three specimens representing different ages. The two " intermediate" specimens belong to adult animals which ought to have their characteristics fully developed. All the heads belonged to Elk shot this autumn in the eastern part of Central Sweden within the following limits: namely, from the central district of Gestrikland in the north, to northern Ostergotland in the south and to Nevike in the west1; all being thus within a small area for such a widely distributed animal as the Elk. Climatic and other physical conditions do not vary much within the area in question ; and the variation in the different specimens is therefore all the more striking. The palmated series is represented by text-figs. 68 -70. Text-fig. 68 shows the youngest pair, which has not developed more than three tines to each antler, but displays, nevertheless, a rather broad palmation for such an early stage. This pair is from Upland. Text-fig. 69 represents a somewhat older pair from Finspang in Northern Ostergotland. The posterior or upper palmation is well developed, with four points on the right and five on the left. The anterior branch displays two points and an incipient palmation on the right side, but only a strong tine on the left. Text-fig. 70 (p. 355) shows the antlers of a still older and better developed stag, with large posterior as well as anterior palmations. The latter have i These limits may also be expressed in the following way:-Northern limit 60° 40' N. ; Southern 59° 3 0 'N . ; Western about 15° E. (Greenwich). pRon. Z o ol . Soc.-1902, V o l . II. No. XXIII. 23 |