266 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



Explanation, Plate 3 



SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ELK 



{Cervus nannodes) 



This elk, which is restricted to California, formerly ranged in great 

 numbers over the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, and westward 

 through the Cuyama Valley into Santa Barbara County and through 

 Santa Clara County to the coast at Monterey. 



As a result of persistent persecution the great herds became reduced 

 almost to extermination. A small band, the last of their race, took 

 refuge on the ranch of Messrs. Miller and Lux, cattlemen, in Kern 

 County. By the order of Mr. Henry Miller this band was rigidly pro- 

 tected and permitted to increase until now it numbers more than 400 

 head. 



Recently the California Academy of Sciences, with the co-operation of 

 Messrs. Miller and Lux and the California Fish and Game Commission, 

 caught and distributed about 150 of these elk to various large public 

 reservations in California. The results are very encouraging and it is 

 believed a number of new herds will become established. 



At certain seasons these elk resort to the great tule swamps ; hence the 

 name "Tule Elk," sometimes used to distinguish this species from the 

 larger elk which inhabits the more humid coast belt north of San 

 Francisco. 



The animals in this group were obtained in Kern County, Cal. 



Group prepared under the direction of John Rowley. 



Background painted by Charles Abel Corwin. 



Photo by Gabriel Moulin. 



