54 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



from a dozen to a single fawn in 1875, with about twenty-five 

 females, more than half of which had previously produced 

 fawns." 



Though able to hold the harem by force, he was removed 

 and replaced by a younger buck. The result was twelve 

 fawns the next season, including one pair of twins. 



As the Elk is the most polygamous of all Deer (in America, 

 probably in the world), it is interesting to note that it is the 

 first of the family to disappear before civilization. This may 

 be due in part to its large size, but it is further remarkable 

 that the most successful of all our Deer (the common White- 

 tail) is the least polygamous. In this connection we may 

 consider the question of leadership, that is, the rudiments of 

 government. 



There is a widespread idea that the big bull is, as a matter 

 of course, the leader of the Wapiti herd. This is not the case. 

 It is well to remember how the animals get their leader. 

 They certainly do not have any formal election, but they have 

 instead a sort of natural election or process of elimination. 

 This is the process: The individual in that band who can 

 impress on the others that he is the wise one — the safe one 

 to follow — eventually becomes the leader, and if there are any 

 members of the band who do not wish to follow him, they 

 have an obvious alternative — to go the other way. Thus 

 the herd reaches unanimity. 



Numberless observations show that this wise one is not 

 the big bull, but almost invariably an elderly female. The 

 big bull might drive them, but not lead them. She is the one 

 that has impressed the others with the idea that she is safe 

 to follow — that she will lead into no fool-traps; that she 

 knows the best pastures and the best ways to them; that she 

 has learned the salt-licks, and the watering-places that are 

 safe and open all around; that her eyes and ears are keen; 

 and that she will take good care of herself and incidentally 

 of the band. This female leadership is common to most, if 

 not all, horned ruminants. One may ask, therefore, if it be 

 not also a corollary of polygamy. 



