54 Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



of about 5 feet 4 inches at the withers, and with the antlers (although of 

 huge dimensions) not excessively large in proportion to the size of the 

 body. 



The coloration of this magnificent deer has been (with the assistance 

 derived from Mr. Caton's well-known work on North American deer) 

 so fully described in the Dt'cr of All Lands that a much briefer notice 

 will suffice on the present occasion. 



In the summer, when both sexes are almost alike in colour, the short 

 and fine coat is dirty yellowish white on the body, and chestnut-brown on 

 the head, neck, under-parts and legs ; the tints gradually bleaching as the 

 season advances. In the winter coat, on the other hand, the dark areas in 

 the old stags are brownish black, with the border on the sides of the rump- 

 patch black, whereas in the hinds these parts are chestnut-brown, with the 

 exception of the middle line of the under-surface of the body, which is 

 nearly black. By exposure to the elements, the winter coat fades to even a 

 greater extent than is the case with the summer dress. 



The two largest pairs of antlers belonging to the present race (both 

 from Wyoming) recorded by Mr. Rowland Ward respectively measure 66 

 and 65 inches in length along the outside curve ; the one having six and 

 the other seven points on each side. Of the larger example the basal girth 

 is not given, but in the smaller this is 7I inches between the bez- and trez- 

 tine. The maximum recorded girth (9jV inches) occurs in a Wyoming 

 specimen of which the length is 58 inches. 



The distributional area of the true wapiti originally embraced the 

 greater part of North America eastward of the central range of the Rocky 

 Mountains, between 40" and 57" N. latitude. On the eastern side, the 

 range extended from Labrador in the north to Pennsylvania and Virginia in 

 the south ; and in the west, from some distance north of the Saskatchewan 

 River in Canada to Colorado and Nabraska. The Athabasca, or Elk River, 

 flowing in a northerly direction from the Saskatchewan, doubtless takes its 



