RED DEER. 339 



spots disappear and the colour of the true Bed Deer 

 asserts itself. Calves remain with the hinds often till 

 they are nearly two years old, though, of course, they 

 are able to take care of themselves much earlier." 



WAPITI. 

 Cervus canadensis. 



This noble stag, the largest of the Cervidae now 

 living on the globe, is an inhabitant of North America. 

 It formerly existed in large herds throughout the 

 northern continent, but now it ' is much restricted in 

 range and reduced in number. However, it is still 

 fairly abundant in Oregon, California, Montana, 

 Wyoming, and in Vancouver Island, in Canada. Very 

 few now exist east of the Mississippi. 



The Wapiti has been called the Bed Deer by some 

 naturalists, and is still known by this name by some 

 Hudson's Bay traders, and, although a larger and more 

 powerful animal, it is no doubt identical. 



The Wapiti, or Elk as it is called by the Americans, 

 is about 5 to 6 feet high ; the legs are dark brown, the 

 body and back lighter ; there is a ring of light brown 

 round the eyes, and two light brown spots over the 

 nostrils ; the buttocks and the short tail are white. 



The male, when adult, has a mane or ridge of hair on 

 the throat, and another on the back ; the ears are 

 moderately long, and brown ; the eyes are dark brown. 



A full-grown stag is really a magnificent spectacle ; 

 no one can fail to admire its grace and the symmetry of 

 its figure, and the ease with which it carries its horns. 



The hind is about 5 feet high, and lighter in colour 



z 2 



