72 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. XL 



but generally the vanquished is but slightly injured and goes away in 

 search of other cows which by chance may be husbandless or at least 

 are guarded by a bull less powerful than himself. 



One old and lusty bull will appropriate for his harem as many cows 

 as he can get and will attack and drive away any presumptuous young 

 bull which has the temerity to approach them. If, however, the battle 

 results disastrously to the reigning lord of the herd, his conqueror will 

 immediately take charge of the family of cows, who accept him as a 

 matter of course. During the rutting season (and occasionally at other 

 times) the bulls utter their ''bugle" cry. It begins with a low roaring 

 sound, rising to a shrill, screaming, double-toned whistle and ends with a 

 series of loud grunts. The cry of the cow is penetrating and high, and 

 may be crudely described as a squeal. 



The majority of the young are born late in May or early in June but 

 occasionally much later. On two occasions I have found newly bom 

 young in August. The number at a birth is usually one, sometimes two, 

 and according to some authorities, rarely three. For a few days after 

 birth, or until it has become quite strong and active, the little Elk calf is 

 left concealed under bushes or high grass by the mother, who returns 

 to it from time to time to suckle and care for it. On several occasions 

 I have found young Elk thus hidden, which were certainly not more than 

 a day or two old. Those which I have found would remain perfectly 

 quiet and permit themselves to be stroked, but if lifted from the ground 

 would usually struggle and ''bleat " loudly. Young animals are spotted 

 with white, but the spots fade and disappear when they are about 12 

 weeks old. 



The size of the antlers and number of points vary more or less in 



different animals of the same age. One bull born in my Park*, when 8 



years old, had a fine pair of antlers having 14 points, while another 9 



years old had but 13. According to my notes the annual increase in 



size and number of points of the antlers of the latter bull were as follows : 



Summer of birth, o; 2nd year, spikes (not branched); 3rd year, 4 points 



on each antler= 8; 4th year, like 3rd year but a small extra point on left 



antler, 9 points in all; 5th year, 6 points on each antler = 12 ; 6th year, no 



record, one horn having been broken; 7th year, 12 points, 6 on each 



antler; 8th year, 7 points on one antler and 6 on the other; 9th year, the 



same number of points, but horns somewhat larger and heavier and 



* For many years the writer had a small herd of Elk on his country estate at 

 Great Island near Hyannis, Massachusetts. The animals lived in a semiferal state, 

 being confined in a wooded park having an area of about 175 acres. In 1901 the 

 herd numbered 12 animals, including 3 bulls, 7 cows, and 2 calves, having increased 

 from 2 bulls and 4 dows in 1890. In addition to those living in 1901, 4 bulls, 2 cows, 

 and several calves had died or been killed (2 dead calves were found but there is no 

 doubt there were others). 



