290 Still-Hunting Elk. 



on the ground, but when we came up close it raised its 

 head and looked proudly at us, the heavy mane bristling 

 up on the neck, while its eyes glared and its teeth grated 

 together. I felt really sorry to kill it. Though these were 

 both well-grown elks, their antlers, of ten points, were 

 small, twisted, and ill-shaped ; in fact hardly worth pre- 

 serving, except to call to mind a chase in which during a 

 few minutes I did as much downright hard work as it 

 has often fallen to my lot to do. The burnt earth had 

 blackened our faces and hands till we looked like negroes. 

 The bull elk had at this time begun calling, and several 

 times they were heard right round camp at night, challen- 

 ging one another or calling to the cows. Their calling is 

 known to hunters as "whistling"; but this is a most 

 inappropriate name for it. It is a most singular and 

 beautiful sound, and is very much the most musical cry 

 uttered by any four-footed beast. When heard for the 

 first time it is almost impossible to believe that it is the call 

 of an animal ; it sounds far more as if made by an ^olian 

 harp or some strange wind instrument. It consists of 

 quite a series of notes uttered continuously, in a most 

 soft, musical, vibrant tone, so clearly that they can be 

 heard half a mile off. Heard in the clear, frosty moon- 

 light from the depths of the rugged and forest-clad 

 mountains the effect is most beautiful ; for its charm is 

 heightened by the wild and desolate surroundings. It has 

 the sustained, varied melody of some bird songs, with, of 

 course, a hundred-fold greater power. Now and then, 

 however, the performance is marred by the elk's apparently 

 getting out of breath towards the close, and winding up 



