IV 



THE WAPITI OR ELK 



THE elk is the most magnificent game-animal 

 found on the North American Continent. He is 

 by far the best deer and in my opinion the best game- 

 animal in the world. There was an objection to him 

 a few years ago on account of his tameness, but he has 

 overcome that. His great size, handsome form, and 

 splendid, symmetrical antlers delight the eye of the 

 sportsman, who loves to follow him in the vast forests 

 and picturesque mountains where he dwells. He has 

 often been called the king of the deer. His flesh is 

 tender and delicious and wonderfully nutritious, much 

 more so than beef. 



Grinnell says the bull elk is about the size of a horse 

 and measures about five feet high at the withers. The 

 females are somewhat smaller. Full-grown bulls will 

 weigh more than 600 pounds. Judge Caton, who 

 raised many of these animals in his park in Illinois, had 

 one which weighed 650 pounds when three years old, 

 and which, he says, probably weighed 900 pounds 

 when he was unfortunately killed. He stood over 

 sixteen hands at the withers. Mr. Hornaday gives the 

 weight of one which died in the New York Zoological 

 Park as 706 pounds. The elk grows until he is eight 

 or nine years old. He is not quite so large as the 



4j6 



