The Elk　麋鹿

This is the largest existing species of the deer family,and is a native of the northern parts of Europe,Asia,and Africa.It grows to be six feet high and twelve hundred pounds in weight.They are very rare in Europe and America,but at one time they extended as far south as the Ohio River.They love the woods and marshy places,and live off of the branches of trees,being unable to eat grass unless they get upon their knees.They are very timid,and easily approached by the hunter,but should a dog come in the way,one stroke from an elk's foot will kill it.Many of the parents of our little friends in Maine and Canada are,no doubt,familiar with the elk and its habits.

鹿家族现存的各种鹿中，麋鹿是最大的一种。它生活在欧洲、亚洲和非洲的北部，能长到六英尺（约一米八三）高，一千二百磅（1磅＝0.4536千克，一千二百磅约合五百四十千克）重。在现在的欧洲和美国，麋鹿是稀有动物，可是，它的足迹曾经向南最远到过俄亥俄河。麋鹿喜欢树林和沼泽。由于麋鹿必须双膝跪地才能吃到草，所以它们以吃树叶为生。麋鹿很温顺，容易成为猎人的囊中之物。但是，如果狗挡了它的路，麋鹿只消一脚，就会要了狗的命。缅因州和加拿大的小朋友们，你们的爸爸妈妈肯定很熟悉麋鹿，也很了解它们的习性哟！