40 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



that nearly fades out toward the spine, where it joins its 

 fellow. The peculiarities of the disk are diagnostic of the 

 various species of Cervus. Some, like the Red-deer of 

 Europe, have a dark mark crossing it from spine to tail, 

 some have the tail of a different colour; the Wapiti has 

 tail and disk of one even shade, or but slightly yellower 

 above the tail. 



As this coat ages it fades greatly. In spring I have seen 

 bulls so bleached that, at a distance, their bodies looked nearly 

 white, thus justifying the name Wapiti (which is supposed to 

 be from the Algonkin roots wah, white, and atik, deer) and 

 the New England name of "Gray Moose." 



The summer coat, worn from May to September, is a 

 little deeper in colour than the winter coat. 



The females, or cows, in summer coat resemble the males; 

 but in fall and winter coat they are less intense in colour, and 

 sometimes have a dark shade uniting the tail with the spine. 



The calf or fawn when born is dull yellowish, thickly 

 dappled on body, neck, and thighs, with large spots of dull 

 white. In late September, when the first winter coat appears, 

 these spots are lost. 



Four forms of Wapiti are recognized : 



canadensis Erxl., the typical form. 



occidentalis H. Smith, the very dark Wapiti of the 



Olympics and West Coast. 

 merriami Nelson, paler and more reddish than the 



typical form. 

 lannodes Merriam, the very pale and dwarfed 



Wapiti of Southern California. 



They have also marked cranial differences. 



HISTORY In 1535 Jacques Cartier ascended the St. Lawrence as 



NAMES far as Hochelaga — now Montreal. On his return he re- 

 ported*" "great stores of Stags, Deere, Beares, * * * other 



'"Hakluyt, Voyages, Vol. Ill, p. 225. 



