THE ELK IN NORWAY. 121 
to lash out tremendously with their hind feet ; but they 
usually defend themselves against wolves, dogs, &c., 
with their fore feet, aiming their blows with the 
rapidity of lightning, and so turning the hoof as to 
strike the enemy with the sharp point. 
The pairing season lasts about three weeks. At this 
time the male and female always select the loneliest 
and most inaccessible spot possible in the middle of the 
thickest part of the forest—not more than fifty or sixty 
feet square—and never leave it on any account, except 
when frightened away ; and even then they are sure to 
return thither after the lapse of a few hours. During 
this season, the male may frequently be heard to emit a 
curious sound with its long lips, resembling a sharp 
crack, accompanied by a snorting like that of a fright- 
ened horse, only much louder and stronger. 
As the calving time draws near, the female retires 
into the loneliest spot she can find, always selecting one 
which is thickly overgrown with bushes. Half an hour 
or so after its birth, the calf attempts to stand up, 
being usually helped to get on its legs by its mother’s 
nose. 
The young ones suck the dam till after the following 
rutting season; in fact, as long as there is any milk to 
be had. When they get a good size, they kneel down 
like lambs in performing this operation; and when 
they have grown too big even to suck comfortably in 
