DEER. 



35* 



that the wapiti has received the nickname of "jackass deer," bestowed upon it by 

 the traders in the Rocky Mountains. 



During May Mr. Perry states that the wapiti desert the lower hills to take 

 refuge in the higher ranges, getting as near as possible to the snow-line without 

 leaving the upper belt of forest. The hinds then leave the herds to give birth to 

 their fawns in the most secluded thickets. Usually there is but a single fawn pro- 

 duced at a birth, although two do not appear to be very unfrequent. The hind 

 will fight to the death in the defence of her helpless offspring against the onslaught 

 of puma, bear, or coyote. At such times she gives utterance to a loud cry, which at 

 once brings to her aid all the members of the herd which may be in the vicinity, 

 and all of which unite in driving off the foe. 



The wapiti is a promiscuous, not to say a coarse, feeder. Mr. Caton says that 

 " all the grasses and most of the weeds within his reach are taken freely, and the 

 leaves and trees of all the deciduous trees are alike enjoyed. A considerable pro- 

 portion of his daily food he desires to be arboreous, yet if deprived of it he will 

 keep in good condition on herbaceous food alone. In winter he will take the 

 coarsest food ; even that which the ox and the horse reject, he will eat freely." The 

 venison, although unlike that of other deer, is of fine flavour, and is said to be more 

 nutritious than any other meat. 



A combat between two male wapiti during the pairing-season is described by 

 Mr. Perry as follows : " The challenger, when approaching a band, or harem, blows 

 a loud whistle of defiance. (Take a half-pint bottle and blow strongly into it, and 

 the sound so produced will be similar to the call of the male wapiti during the 

 rutting-season.) This whistle is at once answered by the ruler of the herd, who 

 steps boldly forth to do battle with the intruder. With heads lowered between 

 their fore-feet, the two adversaries walk around waiting for an opening, and when 

 one is thrown off his guard the other makes a savage rush ; but his opponent 

 instantly recovers, counters the charge, and as they rush together the antlers strike 

 each other with such terrific force that the report can be heard for a long distance. 

 Slowly retreating, bellowing, grumbling, and grinding their teeth in a paroxysm of 

 rage, they again circle around, and when an opportunity is afforded, make another 

 charge, which is countered as before, The challenging wapiti usually docs most of 

 the offensive fighting until he finds (if such be the case) that he is the weaker : then 

 he sullenly retires, bellowing as he goes. These battles are seldom fatal, and during 

 the rutting-season are an everyday occurrence. Ugly wounds often result from 

 them, and sometimes a prong of an antler is broken in the affray." 



Wapiti differ from the majority of the deer tribe in that they do not feed 

 during the night, although they are on the move with the first streak of dawn. 

 From that time till about eight in the morning they continue Eeeding almost 

 without interruption, after which they indulge in a midday siesta. During this 

 midday rest they can be easily approached. About four o'clock in the evening 

 they once more commence feeding, in which occupation tiny continue till dusk. 

 In winter they are often pressed for food; and when the snow lies deep on the 

 ground each party occupies a small area, over which the snow is trampled down as 

 hard as ice, while edl the trees are cmawed bare both of bark and 1 aves as high as 

 the animals can reach. 



