819 



CERVUS CANADENSIS, (Erxleben). 



THE WAPITI OR AMERICAN ELK. 



Specific Chiracter. — Hoofs short, broad and rounded. 'I'ail very short and 

 depressed. Larmiers nearly as lono- as the eye ; naked portion of the muzzle in- 

 feiiorly only half as wide as the septum of the nostrils. No naked glandular 

 space on the outer edge of the hind legs, but a short whitish patch of hairs near 

 the upper part of the metatarsus. 



In summer, general colour, Hofht chestnut red ; davkest on the neck and legs ; 

 thi'oat and median ventral line dusky, almost black. Chin dusky, with a narrow 

 patch of light yellowish on either side, a broad median yellowish patch under the 

 head. Rump yellowish white, bordered by a duskv band, which extends down 

 the posterior face of the hind legs. Winter coloui's more gray. 



Habitat. — Virginia, California and northward through Canada. A few are 

 still found in Northern Ontario. 



Average Size- — ^Equal to a horse. 



Average Weight. — 500 pounds. 



Average Height. — 5h feet at shoulders. 



Average Length. — 8 feet. 



Average Value of Skin. — In the raw $4 to $.5, or 40c. per pound. 



The wapiti is fittingly described as " the antlered monarch of the waste," 

 and is one of the largest specimens of the deer tribe ; not only is he this, but he 

 is also the most beautiful and stately animal in all the deer family, and justly 

 entitled to hold the tirst place among the game animals of our continent. 



In size the wapiti is enormous, being as large as a horse, but withal of such 

 compact build and faultless form as to attract immediate attention on account of 

 his exceeding grace and beauty. The horns are magniucent an i of extraordinary 

 size, not unfrequently measurmg six feet in length, and they are ornamented 

 with brow horns, two over each eye, often growing to a length of twenty-four 

 inches. 



The other prongs or tines grow to a length of eicrhteen inches, and graduate 

 to fine points as if they had been artificially prepared and polished. 



The horns sweep gracefully upwards and are peculiar for their uniform regu- 

 larity. Compared to the wai)iti, the stag of the Scottish Highlands would be 

 but a dwarf. 



The wapiti is less vigilant and therefore more easily approached than any 

 other of the deer tribe, and like all the big game in Canada, his species is rapidly 

 becoming extinct. 



The wapiti rut in September, and during the early part of that month the 

 peculiar whistling of the bull is to be heard. 



The rutting season is of short duration, and at its close the bulls are run 

 down in condition and very thin, but recuperation soon takes place, and by No- 

 vember they are fat and in as good condition as ever. 



The female brings forth her young towards the end of May, or early in 

 June, and retires for this purpose to the woods alone. 



