MAMMALIA 



403 



called the velvet (Hornaday). The first pair of antlers grown during 

 the second year are two straight, slender spikes (" dag antlers "). 

 The fully grown antlers branch several times. The American Elk 

 or Wapiti {Cervus canadensis), tall as a horse, with a beautiful mane 

 and a pair of large antlers, is termed by Hornaday " The king of the 

 Cervidae." The elk browses and grazes. The European red deer 

 are related to the elk. 



Fig. 229. Mule deer in "velvet." (Photo courtesy of Canadian National Railways.) 



The mule deer or Rocky Mountain " black-tail," (Figure 229) the 

 largest of the North American " deer," ranges as far east as western 

 Dakota, preferring a dry climate and a high altitude. It is difficult 

 to keep in a park. The Virginia deer or " white-tail " deer is a 

 forest animal noted for its tendency to hunt cover. Its antlers 

 project forward. 



The American caribou is a deer-like animal ranging farther north 

 than any other hoofed animal except the musk ox. The woodland 

 caribou shifts away the snow with its flanged horn and feeds on 

 grasses, moss and lichen. Other caribous include the Newfoundland 



