122 SPOKT IN NORWAY. 



this posture, they will lie flat down on their backs. 

 They continue to follow the mother till the third year. 



The females evince great affection for their young, 

 and have even been known to attack human beings 

 when an attempt has been made to deprive them of 

 them. But it seldom happens that the young calves 

 are captured, for they are tolerably fleet of foot. If 

 hunted they will turn, and run in a ring like a hare ; 

 and if brought to bay by a dog will lash out vigorously 

 with their fore feet. 



The female goes with young about nine months, and 

 brings forth towards the middle of June. 



The first time she has only one calf, but subsequently 

 two, and occasionally three, but very rarely. The 

 calves are not spotted at their birth, but are of a light- 

 brown colour. 



The elk is a first-rate swimmer, and goes ahead 

 through the water with great velocity, making the 

 water hiss and foam again. It is also able to traverse 

 swamps without sinking into the mire. If the ground 

 be very soft, it has recourse to an artful expedient. As 

 soon as it begins to feel itself sinking, it sits down 

 on its hams, stretches out its fore legs, and regularly 

 " punts " itself along ; but should it happen that the 

 swamp is too soft even to admit of this, it adopts the same 

 plan as the mountain ponies do under similar emer- 

 gencies. It throws itself over on one side, draws its 



