V. 



CHAPTER XL 



NATURE, HABITS. AND MANNER OF HUNTING THE ELK. 



The elk is a member of the same family as the 



deer, but; is a much more noble specimen than the 



common deer, growing sometimes sixteen hands 



Hi^h. which is the height of a medium sized horse, 



and often weighing six hundred pounds. The buck 



ia provided with large and beautiful antlers. These 



grow the second year to the length of two or two 



and a half feet, being sometimes a single spike, but 



>ften with one or two branches. The sixth year the 



antlers are from rive to six and a half feet long, with 



several branches, the largest number I ever observed 



lug seven on one antler and six on the other: the 



which projected forward being from fifteen to 



-:teen inches long. Between the nostiil and the 



:s a:, opening or vent through which they blow 



to produce the peculiar noise which is heard during 



the rutting season, or when they are frightened. 



ue noise in the doe resembles very nearly in tone 



whinny of a horse, while that produced by the 



k is not as shrill, being somewhat more like the 



c: an ass. but can be heard sometimes at a 



Itmrffi of three miles. During the rutting season 



this sound often betravs the elk to the hunter, lie 



