LARGE GAME RETIRES BEFORE EMIGRATION. 79 



with the prairie country, say Illinois or Indiana. 

 However, these states have long ceased to know them, 

 for, like the other large game, they have rapidly re- 

 tired before the tide of emigration. The upper waters 

 of the Missouri, the plains around the fork of the 

 North and South Saskatchawan are where at the 

 present day this mammoth stag will he found most 

 abundant. The adventurer who would follow them to 

 these fastnesses must be a brave, determined person, 

 for it is the centre of the hunting grounds of some of 

 the most warlike and treacherous of all the Indian 

 tribes ; and of late years so many acts of retaliation 

 yes, and treachery have been practised by the white 

 man upon the aborigines, that the aborigines are too apt 

 to regard all pale-faces as their natural-born enemies. 

 Thus, to shoot wapitti will probably entail shooting 

 savages ; for if you are not prepared to do so in self- 

 defence it is highly improbable that you will return to 

 the land of your nativity to relate your knowledge of 

 their habits, or the success you have had in their 

 pursuit. 



The stag of Canada, for by this name the wapitti is 

 scientifically known, is essentially gregarious, and 

 sometimes herds amount to hundreds; but as a rule 

 they will be found assembled in coteries of a dozen or 

 more, the females invariably performing the duties of 

 sentinels, and although they are less difficult of ap- 

 proach than either the Virginian or black-tailed deer, 

 still it is necessary for the stalker never to disregard 

 wind and intervening obstacles if he desire to get suf- 

 ficiently close to the game to deal it a certain shot. 



In very stormy weather, particularly if it be accom 

 panied with snow, however, I have known them 



