ELK, WAPITI. 67 



California it still exists, though not in such numbers as formerly. 

 East of the Missouri River there are one or two localities where 

 the Elk still linger, though in sadly diminished numbers. One of 

 these is in Michigan, in a tract of almost impenetrable forest land. 

 A few have been reported to inhabit the wildest and most unsettled 

 portions of the Alleghany Mountains in Pennsylvania, but this is 

 merely a tradition and it is doubtful whether any exist there at 

 present. The species is now almost entirely confined to the high 

 plains of the Missouri region, and the mountains which stretch 

 away to the westward toward the Pacific Ocean. Here the Elk in 

 many localities is still to be found, but the onward march of the 

 settlements, and continual ravages of the skin hunter, or as he is 

 contemptuously styled by the better class of frontiersmen, the 

 " Elk Skinner," are driving them farther and farther back, and are 

 constantly reducing their numbers. 



As has been remarked the Elk stands about as tall as a horse, 

 but its proportions are those of a deer. Its horns are long and 

 branching, and are generally very symmetrical. They usually attain 

 a length of five or six feet and often weigh sixty or seventy pounds. 

 In color the Elk is, during the summer months, light reddish chest- 

 nut. At the approach of autumn the coat becomes darker and the 

 length of the hairs increases until in winter, the longer hairs be- 

 coming tipped with pale brown, a greyish cast is imparted to the 

 \n\\o\& pelage. A triangular patch of pale yellow is seen on the 

 rump and includes the tail, which is very short. The bull elk, 

 except in summer, has a growth of long hair on the neck and 

 breast which the cow does not possess at any season. The latter 

 differs from the male in being somewhat smaller, and in lacking 

 horns. 



Elk rut early in September and it is only at this season that the 

 peculiar " whistling " of the bulls is to be heard. The rut lasts 

 but a short time, and at the end of the season the bulls are much 

 run down and are very thin. They soon recuperate however and 

 by the last of November are quite fat and in good order. The 

 females bring forth their young late in May or early in June, and 

 some time before this important event takes place, withdraw from 

 the herd and remain in the thickest brush preparing for the duties 

 of maternity. At this time too, the bulls are having trouble with 



