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



As regards form, it appears exceedingly difficult to point out any dis- 

 tinctive peculiarities by which the antlers of this race can be definitely dis- 

 tinguished from American specimens. In full-grown examples, like the pair 

 shown on page 63, the great relative size and marked flattening of the fourth 

 tine, so characteristic of wapiti in general, are very conspicuous, and pos- 

 sibly these features may be more exaggerated than in either of the American 

 races, but it is very difficult to be sure. The following are the dimensions 

 of the specimen just referred to (in which there are seven tines on the right 

 and six on the left side), viz. — length, 54 ; girth between bez- and trez- 

 tines, 71 ; tip-to-tip interval, 49 ; and widest outside span 50^ inches. 



Of the four specimens in the possession of Mr. J. V. Phelps, shown on 

 page 61, the two upper ones are quite normal and regularly tined, but the 

 two lower pairs show a tendency towards palmation near their summits, at 

 least on the one side. Moreover, the left antler in one of the specimens 

 has an additional small line between the bez and the trez. 



As regards the coloration of the present race, the author must confess 

 that he has never had the opportunity of comparing a skin side by side with 

 that of the typical American wapiti, which is the only means by which 

 minute points of difl'erence can be detected. But a comparison of living 

 examples shows that, in the winter coat at any rate, the general type of 

 coloration is essentially the same in both. The specimen shown in plate 

 vi. of Di'cr of All Lands appears to have been figured when in the early 

 winter coat, before the hair had grown to its full length, and when the 

 throat-fringe had only just begun to make its appearance. According to 

 information furnished by Mr. P. W. Church, the winter coat of the stags 

 bleaches very rapidly, and the body soon becomes almost white. 



That certain diffisrences do exist as regards coloration between the 

 American and Asiatic animals may almost be taken for granted ; but, con- 

 sidering the immense time during which they have been isolated, the 

 marvel is that they should be so much alike as they are. And the writer 



