298 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



"How large do elk grow?" asked the doctor as 

 thej" were packing the specimens and commenting on 

 the big fellow's size. 



" A full-grown bull sometimes attains the weight 

 of a thousand pounds, but the average is not over half 

 of that. Cows weigh from three hundred to five 

 hundred pounds and have but one calf, which is 

 spotted like a fawn." 



"If the skin was as good as the meat," said Jim 

 as he helped himself to another rib, " it would make 

 mighty good leather, but it's the poorest part of the 

 animal." 



" That's a fact," replied Dyche ; " the skin is almost 

 worthless and appears to be rotten when tanned." 



"Where is the best place to find elk now?" asked 

 the judge. 



" The range is now restricted to certain favoured 

 spots in the Rocky Mountains, but they formerly 

 ranged from Northern Mexico to British Columbia. 

 A few are found in Minnesota. They live principally 

 on grass and twigs and sometimes bits of the bark 

 of such trees as quaking asps. The European cousin 

 of the elk is undoubtedly the red deer, or stag. Elk 

 will average much larger than the stag, but they are 

 similar in general appearance and when placed in 

 parks together will breed and their offspring will also 

 breed." 



" What a fine team a pair of them would make !" 

 said Jim. " They would take a fellow sailing over 

 the country in great style. " 



" I've seen that done," said the judge. " Last year 

 it was a common sight in Denver. A man had a 



