Kragv the Kootenay Ram 



over whom she would go. Somewhere in this 

 scale there must be a place for the newcomer, 

 and until this is settled, her life is one of battles. 

 No doubt strength, courage, and activity fix 

 her standing in most cases, but sometimes wis- 

 dom and keenness of sense are of greater im- 

 portance. Which one is the leader of a band 

 of wild animals? Not necessarily the strongest 

 or fiercest. That one might drive the rest, but 

 not lead them. The leader is not formally 

 elected, as with man, but is rather slowly se- 

 lected, thus, that individual who can impress 

 the rest with the idea that he or she is the best 

 one to folloiv becomes the leader, and the gov- 

 ernment is wholly by consent of the governed. 

 The election is quite unanimous. For if in 

 the herd are some who do not care to follow, 

 they are free to go the other way. In many 

 kinds of animals that go in herds, the leader 

 whose courage and prowess have so often stood 

 all tests, and who has inspired all the rest with 

 confidence in his sagacity, is usually not the 

 strongest male, but an elderly female. This is 

 especially the case with Elk, Buffalo, Blacktail, 

 and the summer bands of Mountain Sheep. 



36 



