VARIETIES OF ELK ANTLERS 71 



densis) as a basis, we find that the dressed weight represents 

 .78612 of the live weight, or f-ff of the whole animal. 



The dressed weight being given, in pounds, add to it five 

 ciphers, divide by 78612, and the result will be the live weight, 

 in pounds. 



While this rule will often prove convenient, the author 

 desires to state that none of the weights recorded in this 

 volume were obtained by it; and any weight so obtained and 

 published always should be marked "as calculated." 



The longest and widest Elk antlers are not necessarily the 

 handsomest. Usually antlers that are of great length are slen- 

 der, whereas the finest pairs are those of massive proportions, 

 fairly symmetrical, and about 60 inches long. One of the 

 longest pairs in America, so far as known, measures 63 inches 

 in length of main beam, following curve, 64 inches in widest 

 outside spread, between the bez and trez tines has a circumfer- 

 ence of 8% inches, and 6-\~6 points. It is from Wyoming, and 

 is owned by Dr. John C. Phillips, of Wenham, Massachusetts. 



Elk-hunting is not always as fine sport as the noble indi- 

 viduality of this animal would naturally lead the hunter to 

 expect. Very often the Elk is unsuspicious, to the point of 

 stupidity. There have been many times when attacking a 

 herd was too much like attacking a herd of cattle. It is not 

 an animal of ' highly-wrought-nervous " temperament, like 

 the deer, but when startled is too much given to hesitating 

 and seeking knowledge, before it dashes away to safety. 



During recent years various important steps have been 

 taken, by private individuals only, toward restoring the Elk 

 to the Adirondack forests, which it once inhabited. In 1901, 



