146 The North American Cervidcz. 



commercial value, which makes it sought after by those butchers 

 of the plains called "skin hunters"; and the size and beauty of the 

 animal causes it to be ruthlessly pursued by so-called sportsmen, who 

 are eager to kill, so that, on their return to civilization, they may 

 boast of the slaughter they have made among these graceful deni- 

 zens of plain and mountain. The same wanton butchery, which 

 has over the greater portion of our country exterminated the 

 buffalo and the moose, is causing the elk in like manner to 

 disappear. 



The young are born in May and June, and are at first bright bay 

 in color, profusely spotted with white, after the manner of the com- 

 mon red deer. At the time of the birth of the calves, the females are 

 scattered and the bulls keep by themselves in small companies of 

 two, three, or half a dozen. If in a mountain country, they frequent 

 the highest hills, usually close to the snow line, and do not move about 

 much ; while, if on the plains, they spend their time among the thick 

 willow brush along streams. About the first of August, the elk 

 begin to "band up," as the hunters phrase it, and at this time they 

 are to be found in scattering companies, which remain together until 

 the rutting season begins in September. Each male now collects 

 as many cows as possible, and keeps them together, jealously guard- 

 ing them and driving away any other bulls which may approach. 

 This lasts for a month or more, and during this time the bulls are 

 constantly moving about, looking after the cows that are under their 

 charge, and fighting. Many little groups of bulls, however, will be 

 found without any cows. 



After the rut is over, the elk collect in large bands, and at the 

 approach of winter shift from place to place, gradually working 

 toward their winter feeding grounds. These are usually bald hills, 

 which the winds keep swept clear of snow, so that the grass is 

 always exposed. In such situations they spend the winter. 



The usual gait of the elk is a long, swift trot, which it can keep 

 up for a great length of time without manifesting fatigue. When 

 greatly frightened they sometimes run, but this pace, while perhaps 

 somewhat faster than the trot, soon tires the animal. This species is 

 killed almost exclusively by still-hunting, though, on the plains, it 

 is not unusual to run them down on horseback. This requires a 

 very good horse and an open, favorable country. 



