342 UNGULATA. 



the Wapiti desert the lower hills to take refuge in the 

 higher ranges, getting as near as possible to the snow line 

 without leaving the upper belt of the forest. The hinds 

 leave the herds, and the fawns are born in the most se- 

 cluded thickets. The antlers are shed late in December or 

 early in January, and the new antlers begin to sprout in 

 March or April, and are complete by August. At this time 

 the call of the old stag has such a, resemblance to the 

 bray of a donkey that the old traders in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains called it the "Jackass Deer." 



Unlike most of the Deer the Wapiti do not feed at 

 night, but eat during the day, very much after the man- 

 ner of the Moose ; but they are not particular as to what 

 they eat, consuming the coarsest grasses and w r eeds as 

 freely as the leaves and tender shoots of deciduous trees. 

 In the winter, when they are pressed for food, they will 

 even gnaw the bark off the trees. 



The skins of the Wapiti are used for leather, and the 

 antlers for ornamental purposes. The antlers are worth 

 from twenty-five to seventy-five dollar a pair. 



