AT DAGGERS DRAWN 59 



area. But in the Yukon district, my friend Mr. F. C. 

 Selous tells me this is never done. 



The rutting season of the bulls begins as soon as the 

 antlers begin to " peel." What follows is practically a 

 repetition of what has already been related in regard to 

 the Red-deer and Wapiti. And in this connection it is 

 interesting to note that the natives take advantage of the 

 period of desire in the bull to entice him to his death. 

 Generally this is done by imitating the call of the cow 

 in response to the bull's anxious bellowing. But in 

 Southern Alaska the opposite side of his nature is played 

 upon. This is done by scraping or beating the bushes 

 with the shoulder-blade of a Moose in such a way as to 

 reproduce the sound of a bull cleaning his horns. The very 

 suspicion of a rival enrages him, and, rushing in a blind 

 fury in the direction of the tell-tale sounds, he speedily 

 falls a victim to the trick which has been played him. 



That the mating period is the most critical, and most 

 searching in the whole life-history there can be no doubt. 

 Every faculty during this time is put to the test, and from 

 the time of sexual maturity until old age is at last attained 

 it is an annual test. Alertness is all important. Other 

 things being equal, success falls most certainly to those 

 individuals with the keenest perception, and quickest 

 interpretation of sight, sound and smell. 



One is puzzled at what seems a concession of Darwin's 

 to the Lamarckian theory of the inherited effects of use in 

 this connection. For in discussing the bellowing of the 

 stag in " The Descent of Man," he remarks that it " does 

 not seem to be of any special service to him, either during 

 courtship or battles, or in any other way. But may we 

 not believe that the frequent use of the voice, under the 

 strong excitement of love, jealousy and rage, continued 



