Hunting in the Selkirks. 155 



which wages repeated and furious battles for his harem ; 

 and in their ways of life they resemble the wapiti more 

 than they do the moose or deer. They sometimes display 

 a curious boldness, the bulls especially showing both 

 stupidity and pugnacity when in districts to which men 

 rarely penetrate. 



On our way out of the woods, after this hunt, there 

 was a slight warm spell, followed by rain and then by 

 freezing weather, so as to bring about what is known as a 

 silver thaw. Every twig was sheathed in glittering ice, 

 and in the moonlis^ht the forest Meamed as if carved out 

 of frosted silver. 



