68 GAME ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



their horns. These huge weapons are grown in about four 

 months, and it will readily be conceived that the drain upon the 

 animal's strength is thus enormous. The bulls laie in July are 

 more thin and weak than the cows, which have for two months 

 been suckling their calves. In a mountain country the males are 

 now to be found on the highest ridges, feeding above timber line 

 and passing most of their time in the densest thickets where they 

 are in a measure protected from the flies. On the plains, they 

 spend most of their time lying in the thick willow brush which lines 

 the borders of the streams. 



The cow Elk produces usually only one calf, and no instance 

 of the birth of twins has ever come under our observation. The 

 calf is a beautiful little creature, spotted like a red deer's fawn, 

 which it much resembles in general appearance. As already re- 

 marked, the " whistling " of the Elk is heard only for a few days 

 during the early part of September. It is made up of several 

 parts, and is so peculiar a cry that it can hardly be described, much 

 less imitated. The first part consists of a prolonged, shrill whis- 

 tle, which seems to come to the hearer from a long distance, even 

 though the animal uttering it be quite near at hand. This is fol- 

 lowed by a succession of short grunting brays or barks, three or 

 four in num.ber, and the call is completed by a low, smooth bel- 

 low. Sometimes the whistle is sounded without the succeeding 

 parts. Withal, the cry is an odd one, and once heard will always 

 afterward be recognized. 



The whistle is very musical, and no more delightful sound can 

 come to the sportsman's ear, as in the grey dawn of the morning 

 he ascends a mountain side to obtain a good view of the undula- 

 ting slopes and park like openings, which stretch away toward the 

 valley beyond. Watch carefully brother, keep yourself well con- 

 cealed, and be sure that the wind is right. Then when you spy 

 the herd, slip cautiously down yon little ravine, and you will ere 

 long be within easy reach of as fine a bull as hunter ever bagged. 



The Elk and Mule Deer differ widely in many of their habits 

 from the Virginia Deer, and in nothing more than their intense 

 fear of man, and their hatred of the " march of civilization," so- 

 called. While the White-tail, if shot at or pursued with hounds, 

 will only run far enough to escape the immediate danger, and 



