Siberian Wapiti 67 



valley, I believe that they are now very scarce except in the heavily-wooded 

 country east of the Katuna. In the Yenisei and Abakan valleys this deer, 

 or a nearly allied form to it, is much more numerous." 



This account is confirmed in all essential details by Prince DemidofF, 

 who states, however, that the price per pound obtained for the antlers is 

 1 5 roubles, and also that a single pair will sometimes realise as much 

 as 120 roubles (^12), while in one instance as much as 180 roubles (X^i8) 

 was obtained. This latter instance suggests, by the way, the occasional 

 occurrence of antlers of much larger dimensions than any of those hitherto 

 brought to this country. 



Throughout Central Asia wapiti, in common with other deer, are 

 known by the name of maral ; the enclosures in which they are kept 

 in the Altai being termed maralnik. In one of such enclosures, or parks, 

 Prince Demidoff saw a herd of about i 50 deer of both sexes and all ages, 

 some of which were so tame that they would take bread from the hand 

 of their owner. The hinds were tamer than the stags ; the latter being 

 stated to show signs ot wildness as the season approached for cutting 

 their antlers while in the velvet, an operation which generally takes place 

 in June. In the Eastern Altai these " maralniks " are especially numerous ; 

 and about the time of the visit of Prince DemidofF the total number of 

 wapiti kept in captivity throughout the Altai was estimated at about six 

 thousand. 



THE SIBERIAN WAPITI 



{Cervus canadensis asiaticus) 



In the Deer of All Lands the name asiaticus was taken to include all 

 the wapiti-like deer of East Central and Northern Asia. But, as mentioned 

 on page 60, Severtzoff distinguishes those of the Southern Altai and Thian 



