The Wapiti, or Round-horned Elk * 



and clearing great logs in his stride, while 

 he dodges among the thick timber in a 

 really marvellous way, when one comes 

 to think of the difficulty he must have 

 in handling his great antlers. 



Late in September the rut begins, and 

 then the elk gather in huge bands, while 

 the great bulls fight vicious battles for 

 leadership. Hunters call this the whist- 

 ling-time, because throughout its con- 

 tinuance the bulls are very noisy, con- 

 tinually challenging one another. Their 

 note is really not much like a whistle. 

 It consists of two or three bars, rising and 

 then falling, ending with a succession of 

 grunts; the tone of voice varies greatly 

 in different individuals; but when heard 

 at a little distance in the heart of the 

 great wooded wilderness the sound is very 

 musical, and to me and, I suppose, to 

 most hunters it is one of the most at- 

 tractive sounds in all nature. 



17 



r 



