THE WAPITI, OR CANADIAN STAG. 



99 



led by an old buck, who exacts from them the strictest obedi- 

 ence — compelling them to halt or move onward as he judges 

 necessary. Now the superb herd of long-horned creatures are 

 seen to wheel to the right or lel't, now to advance or retreat 

 at the signal he issues. 



The wapiti is indeed a grand animal, growing to the height 

 of the tallest ox, and endowed with wonderful activity, as 

 well as power. 



^~ 



See him as he 

 dashes throuo'h 

 the forest, his 

 branched horns 

 separating in ser- 

 pentine curves, six 

 feet from tip to 

 tip, laid close over 

 his back as he 

 makes his way 

 amid the trees. 

 His head is of a 

 lively, yellowish- 

 brown hue, the 

 neck covered with 



THE WAPITI. 



reddish and black hairs, the latter of consideral )le length, 

 descending in a thick bunch below it. They are among the 

 fiercest of the deer tribe. The bucks often enter into des- 

 ])erate contests with each other, battling with their huge 

 ' horns — the fight frequently ending only with the death of the 

 weaker rival. Sometimes their lionis have become so inex- 

 tricably interlocked, that Ijoth have fallen to the ground, and, 

 unable to rise,-have perished miserably. They will frequently. 



