366 



HUNTING AT. 1 VENTURES. 







CHAPTER LIX. 



HUNTING THE AMERICAN ELK, OR WAPITI. 

 ^^^^~ ',, HE WAPITI was for a long time consi- 

 dered as a mere variety of the moose. 

 Ilearne is justly entitled to the credit 

 of having insisted upon the .specific dis- 

 tinctness of this animal from the moose. 

 The size and appearance of the elk are 

 imposing ; his air denotes confidence 

 of great strength, while his towering 

 horns exhibit weapons capable of doing 

 n uch injury when offensively employed. The head is beauti- 

 fully formed, tapering to a narrow point; the ears are large and 

 rapidly movable : the eyes are full and dark ; the horns are lofty, 

 and the neck at once slender, vigorous and graceful. The beauty 

 of the male elk is still further heightened by the long, forward, 

 curling hair, which extends from the head to the breast in the 



