84 MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



beeclios t'oui- inches, su^ar maples foni' and one-half inches, catalpa 

 was broken oft' and slivered; basswoods were much broken down, but 

 the tou^h bark seemed to protect the nuiin trunks, though this would 

 avail nothing, because all ilie leaves and small branches were removed. 

 Some low hawthorns Avere within the enclosure. So fond were the 

 deer and elk of the leaves and young growth of these bushes, that they 

 cautiously inserted their noses far in toward the middle, using also 

 their feet and hor-.is to aid in the destruction. Later, this low dense 

 hawthorn died. 



They are especially fond of the branches of hemlock, white pine, and 

 arbor vitie, but hesitate a little to devour Norway spruce, although 

 these trees ha^-e fiuallv all been destroved or nearlv so. 



The food habits of deer and elk are much lik<^ those of sheep and 

 goats. They ar(^ all fond of a variety and will take a little of this 

 and a little of that, as fancy guides them. Every farmer know^s that 

 a flock of sheep is most etfective in clearing- new fields of sprouts and 

 bushes of every description. 



Previous to observing this park, 1 did not suppose deer or elk de- 

 stroyed trees and shrubs with their horns, excepting w^hen they w'ere 

 engaged in rubbing the hair and dead skin from their mature antlers, 

 but I have learned that the work continues as long as the horns remain. 

 They rub the trees for exercise, for play, and to work otf some of their 

 proclivities for fighting, as they had no males of their species with 

 which to engage in battle. 



' A week ago. as I went about the fence of the park taking notes, the 

 male elk followed around all the way, as near to me as he could get, 

 showing his power by twisting bushes and rattling tlie wire fence. 

 He rau down and killed the doe of the flock one day the past winter. Mi-. 

 Pettit climbed the fence and w^as in at the death, but was too late 

 to be of service. 



At the time of taking notes, the buck was quiet and harmless, as he 

 had dropped his antlers a few weeks before, but early the year before 

 he took down an old gtrntleman, who had the curiosity to make a close 

 ac(}uaintance by climbing the fence and entering- the park. 



This elk api)eared vicious, though I kejit on one side of the fence 

 and he the other. 



In the forests it is not likely that deer or elk ever were sufficiently 

 abundant to make their influence very effective for iujury, but if 

 crowded into small areas, like sheep in a pasture, we can readily see 

 what results would follow. 



I cannot recommend large herds of deer or elk as valuable accom- 

 paniments for a young forest preserve. 



