32 MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. 



and twigs but denuding it of bark. By this means their whereabouts are 

 easily detected, the peeled saplings forming a conspicuous " sign " for the 

 hunter. Basswood is also much sought after, but very few deciduous trees 

 come amiss at any season, the elk being a most omnivorous and hearty feeder. 

 Audubon in the book " Quadrupeds of North America," thus speaks of a 

 pair which he had in captivity (Vol. 2, 1851, p. yo) : "The pair from which 

 the figures on our plate were taken we purchased at Philadelphia. They 

 had been caught when youpg in the western part of Pennsylvania. The male 

 was supposed to be four or five years old and the female also was full grown. 

 . . They often whistled (as the hunters call this remarkable noise) which 

 in calm weather can be heard nearly a mile. This shrill sound appears to be 

 produced by an almost spasmodic effort, during which the animal throws its 

 head upwards and then backwards." Audubon further speaks of their grega- 

 rious habits, congregating to the number of 50 to 100 in a herd under one 

 master buck, whose movements are closely followed by the whole band, 

 whether in flight or on the watch ; easily domesticated and living to a great 

 age, even 25 or 30 years in captivity ; lying down in midday and feeding be- 

 fore sunrise and after sunset. Caton, who had a large number in captivity, 

 and hunted them in the west, gives an account of them in his book on Amer- 

 ican Deer, from which the following points may be summarized : The fawn is 

 spotted as in the common deer : in wild, undisturbed country not a nocturnal 

 feeder; more polygamous than any other deer except the Red deer of 

 Europe ; master deer of the herd nearly always dangerous in captivity, a per- 

 fect tyrant during the rutting season, and at all times supremely selfish and 

 abusive ; does more courageous than bucks against a wild enemy, giving 

 chase in a body and striking with forefeet, the bucks following at a distance ; 

 better adapted to domestication than any other deer ; more healthy and 

 hearty feeders, eating fodder a cow or horse will reject ; young feign death, 

 when picked up, lying limp ; follow dam in 2 days after birth, unusually 

 precocious in this respect as compared with other deer ; wallowing in summer 

 like the bison ; natural gait a trot, very rapid and continued when pursued ; 

 when closely pressed into a run soon become exhausted ; in their natural 

 freedom inhabiting all kinds of country contiguous to woodland or forested, 

 whether mountain or plain, ranging from above timberline 10,000 to 12,000 ft. 

 to the sea level, but preferring mountainous regions, from which they never stray 

 a great distance unless from hunger or enemies ; not as tenacious of life as 

 deer, an ordinary shot soon disabling or killing them ; hide of little economic 

 value, being soft and pliable as in other deer similarly tanned, but of little 

 strength and durability ; meat much esteemed ; horns used by the Indians as 

 bows; canine or fang teeth of males used as a valued ornament or charm. 



The following notes by my valued correspondent, Mr. E. O. Austin, of 

 Potter Co., Pa., regarding the habits of the wapiti in that county are of much 



