340 



BRANCH CHORDATA 



to the cover of brush or timber, in which it is not easily perceived until it 

 starts to run, when it raises its tail and waves its "white flag" right and left 

 in utter defiance of the rifle. If this white tail is not used as a recognition 1 

 mark, it is surely unexplainable. 



The American elk or wapiti (Cer'vus canaden'sis) is the largest of the 

 round-horned deer, handsome and tall as a horse, with a luxuriant mane 

 and imposing antlers. The wild elks are nearly exterminated except 

 in Yellowstone Park, though formerly abounding from the Adirondacks and 

 southern Alleghenies to California and even Alaska. An effort is being 

 made to restock the Adirondacks, but reckless hunters make it almost im- 

 possible. The elk is both a browsing and a grazing animal. In winter 

 those in Yellowstone Park migrate southward to the sheltering valleys of 

 Jackson Hole. In summer they love to ascend the high mountains. They 







Fig. 276. " Pushing match." (From life.) 



are kept in many city parks, as they breed freely in captivity. The red 

 deer of Europe is a close ally. 



The reindeer (Ran'gifer taran'dus) of arctic Europe is unique in that both 

 sexes bear horns. These are used not only for defense, but to shovel snow 

 in search for food. Their fur is of a lighter color in winter. In Spitzbergen 

 they migrate "in the summer to the inland region of the island, and in the 

 autumn back again to the seacoast to browse upon the seaweed." 2 Rein- 

 deer are annually imported into Alaska from Siberia for food and burden 

 bearers for the natives. The multiplication of these reindeer has proved a 

 source of food supply. The young develop into larger and stronger animals 

 than their parents. 



Very closely allied is the American caribou, which ranges from the east 

 coast of Greenland to the west coast of Alaska. Next to the musk-ox it is 



1 Glossary. 



2 Beddard, p. 299. 



