62 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



has replaced the rusty brown; his beard is not so long as in 

 late winter, but it is full, dark, and trim; his neck is swollen; 

 his muscles are tense; he is tingling with life and vigour; 

 and, above all, his antlers are perfect, new grown, clean, and 

 sharp — heavier now than they will be later. A new feeling 

 comes over both sexes — first in the bull, with overwhelming 

 power; next in the cow, with lesser force. 

 THE WAR Filled with courage and desire, proud of his horns, and 



CRY • • • r» 



conscious of his strength, this greatest bull of the valley, gets 

 up on some commanding ridge, fills his lungs, and raising his 

 muzzle, he pours forth a tremendous guttural roaring that rises 

 in pitch to trumpet tones, higher and higher, till it breaks into 

 a shrill screaming whistle, then fades and drops again to the 

 guttural, concluding with a few savage grunts. This is the 

 world-famed bugling of the Elk. I have heard it likened to 

 the braying of a jackass, but among those who know it in its 

 native mountains, there is only one opinion — that it is the 

 most inspiring music in nature. Here is this magnificent 

 creature, nearly half a ton in weight, strong as a bull, fierce as 

 a lion, in all the glory of his new antlers, proud of them, sur- 

 rounded already by a band of his cows. He is challenging 

 all the world to a fight; he is prepared to stake his all on the 

 issue. *' I am out to fight," he roars, in tones that tell of his 

 huge round chest, "my horns are clean and sharp, I am big 

 and strong, I fear no living thing. On this fight I will stake 

 my range, my family, my social position, my limbs, my life." 

 The martial clamour borne over hill and valley can scarcely fail 

 to reach others of the same kind and in the same mood. Soon 

 the distant woods give forth reply — the bugled answer of some 

 other knight — maybe one like himself, with many possessions 

 in the form of wives, to stake — maybe a youngster, just com- 

 ing into his strength, with nothing to risk but life and limb, with 

 all his fortunes yet to make, and glad to get his chance. 



But the deep bugle-notes are characteristic of the prime 

 bull. Younger bulls are often called "squealers," and, being 

 more numerous, they are responsible for the bugling being 

 sometimes called "whistling." 



