Natural HUtory. 391 



reached Europe, notwitlistaiiding tliat America was discovered 

 and settled, and is now occupied, by the descendants of Europeans. 



The persons who have charge of these animals state, that a 

 German naturalist, u'ho had been eujployed several years in ex- 

 ploring that part of Louisiana, called the Upper Missouri coun- 

 try, brought thein from thence over-land to Baltimore, v/here, as 

 well as at Philadelphia and New York, they were exiiibited for 

 money. 



The\' are in their nature very timid, and at the same time of 

 such po\ver and activity when grown, that it is not possible to 

 take them out of the forest tilive ; but some remote tribes of In- 

 dians having discovered that they were susceptible of domestica- 

 tion, and of being trained to draw their sledges in winter over the 

 snow and ice, took them when fawns in nets, and brought them 

 up in their houses with great care and kindness, thus depriving 

 them of their wild habits, and making them at last of great value 

 and importance for their services in harness. 



Their flesh ia the winter season is so juicy and nutritive that it 

 is sought after with avidity by the Vv'hite hunters as well as the 

 Indians; in consequence of whicii, the species is threatened with 

 an early and total destruction. 



This animal is naturally inclined to be domestic. In his na- 

 tive abode he has his peculiar family or fraternity; each family 

 has its own peculiar range of pasture, and does not intrude into 

 that of its neighbours; he is not a rambler: and this family at- 

 tachment is so>trong, the hunters know that if they can knock 

 down but one of them they can make sure of the rest at pleasure. 



The name of this animal, in the language of the al)origines, 

 is Wapiti, which has been adopted by Professor Mitchill, of the 

 university of New York, and by the late Dr. Barton, of Phila- 

 delphia; but some naturalists have mistaken his character, and 

 called him the Elk or Moose, which is an animal with broad pal- 

 mated iiorns, and an micouth figure, whereas the horn of the 

 wapiti is round, and his figure elegant. 



The aii;e of the mule of this sj)eci('s is ascertained by its horn 

 till it is full grown; he sheds them annually: the females have 

 no horns. 



The colour of these animals is, in the winter, on the body, of 

 a peculiar dnnnisb hue; the neck and legs arc a dark brown, the 

 rump is a pale yellowish v^hite; the colour extending about six 

 or seven inches from the tail on all sides, and very distinct from 

 tiie general colour of the body. A black senu-circular line of 

 unequal width (from a quarter of an inch to two inches) sepa- 

 rates the while of the rump on either buttock, from the duu of 

 the ijody. 



The head resembles that of the connnon American deer {Cervus 

 B b 4 Firginianus) 



