Hunting in the Selkirks 183 



wander long distances, and are fond of frequenting 

 the wet barrens which break the expanse of the 

 northern forest in tracts of ever-increasing size as 

 the subarctic regions are neared. At this time they 

 go in bands, each under the control of a master 

 bull, which wages repeated and furious battles for 

 his harem; and in their ways of life they resemble 

 the wapiti more than they do the moose or deer. 

 They sometimes display a curious boldness, the 

 bulls especially showing both stupidity and pugnac 

 ity when in districts to which men rarely penetrate. 

 On our way out of the woods, after this hunt, 

 there was a slight warm spell, followed by rain and 

 then by freezing weather, so as to bring about 

 what is known as a silver thaw. Every twig was 

 sheathed in glittering ice, and in the moonlight 

 the forest gleamed as if carved out of frosted 

 silver. 



