WAPITI HUNTING. 27 



mentioned. It is a fine animal carrying splendid horns, and having 

 characteristics pertaining to both the Kansu and Manchurian species. 

 Thus its homs approach more nearly to those of the Kansu wapiti 

 in length, while they are much thicker and heavier. 



The only records are those of a magnificent twelve pointer recently 

 shot by Captain T. Holcomb of the U. S. Marines. They are :— length 

 41 inches, circumference 9^ inches, widest spread 29^ inches. 



In colour this deer is of a rich reddy -brown in the summer, 

 while in winter it is of a fine grey-brown in adults, changing into 

 almost silver-grey in the very oldJ bucks. There is a considerable 

 amount of silver-grey on the head, which with the darkening on the 

 nose and the fine horns makes it a very handsome trophy. In this 

 characteristic it approaches more nearly to the Manchurian wapiti, 

 the more western forms being distinctly browner in colour. The light 

 patch on the rump, or croup disc as it is called, is not white as in 

 the Kansu and Szechuan forms, but of a light sandy yellow colour, and 

 is surrounded by a conspicuous black band, which runs down to :he 

 base of the tail, and also has a tendency to continue up the back as 

 a median dorsal line. The tail is of the same colour as the croup disc. 

 The legs are of a pretty mouse-brown colour, darker on the anterior sur- 

 face. The chest and belly are dark brown, almost black. In this 

 feature it differs from the Kansu wapiti. In short, the North Shansi 

 wapiti appears to be an intermediate form between those from Man- 

 cnuria and those from Kansu. 



My own experience with wapiti has been confined almost entirely 

 to those found in North Shansi, but judging from accounts written by 

 others, who have hunted them in Kansu, the Thian Shan and elsewhere, 

 they are all much the same in habits, so that the following notes may 

 be said to apply more or less accurately to the whole group. 



The country inhabited by the wapiti in North Shansi borders that 

 over which the sheep range, and is even more rough and precipitous 

 with very much less of the rolling grassy uplands. It is dotted over 

 with sparse birch woods in which the deer seek cover, certain woods 

 and ravines being more favoured by them than others, doubtless on 

 account of the proximity of permanent supplies of fresh water. 



The few small herds that exist wander from one to another of these 

 favoured spots over wide stretches of country. In winter the deer lie 

 up during the night and for a couple of hours at noon, feeding in the 

 morning and afternoon. During the warmer months they travel during 

 the night and feed very early in the morning and late in the evening, 

 while they lie up in well shaded woods during the whole of the day. 



