ELK. 159 



The buck has a deep bellow as call for the doe. In 

 defiance or as warning of danger his note is a low whistle, 

 very much prolonged, and capable of being heard at 

 incredible distances. A musical friend tells me that the 

 note is the soft natural ' E ' of the organ. It is by no 

 means combative or warlike, and I think indicates the 

 true character of the elk. 



It is somewhat singular that while endowed by nature 

 with splendid proportions, wonderful strength, and the 

 most formidable weapons of offence, the elk is one of the 

 most timid of animals. I have never seen even a 

 wounded elk evince the slightest disposition to defend 

 himself. In a close encounter with either man or dog he 

 is not to be compared for a moment as a dangerous 

 animal with either the black-tail or the common red deer. 

 His size, strength, and horns seem to be utterly useless to 

 him. 



An exception to this general rule occurred in the 

 experience of an army officer, who related to me the 

 following anecdote : He was, with one soldier, crossing a 

 section of country about half of which was covered with 

 timber. Their attention was attracted by a loud and 

 singular noise proceeding from a thicket on one side of 

 their route. Approaching cautiously, they found a small 

 park -like opening of about a couple of acres in extent, in 

 which two immense buck elks were having a mortal 

 combat. They did not push with their horns, as would 

 appear natural ; but, backing from each other for about 

 twenty feet, would, with blazing eyes, hair turned the 

 wrong way, and heads lowered, rush together like knights 

 in the tournay, with tremendous speed and force, meeting 

 with a fearful crash of horns, and each emitting at the 

 moment of contact a shrill snort of anger and defiance. 

 Each would then back off for a new start. Many courses 

 were thus run, without advantage on either side, when 

 the officers, getting tired of the sameness of the affair, 

 fired at one, when both ran off together. There were no 



