34 



ME. H. J. ELWES ON THE 



Another point which should be taken into consideration in 

 deciding the spec'fic relations of these Deer, is the peculiar call of 

 the stags in the rutting time. The Eed "Deer in all its forms, 

 both in Europe and Asia, utters at this season a deep hoarse roar, 

 ending in three or four loud grunts ; which may be imitated by 

 the human voice with the aid of a conch-shell or glass bottle. 



Fig. 4. 



Ccrvus asiuticiiH, var. Luhdorfi., Eolaii. 

 From the Sutschan river, Manchuria. (Dorries.) 



On the other hand, the Wapiti in all its races (Asiatic and 

 American) has a very different cry, which is described by hunters 

 as a whistle. Although I have never listened to this cry myself, 

 I have heard hunters in the Altai imitate it with the hollow stem 

 of a plant, whilst in America a tin whistle is used for the same 

 purpose. Kadde who, in his well-known and valuable work on 

 the natural history of Amur-land, regards the Stag of the East 

 iSavausk mountains and Dahuria as a race of Cervus elaphus, 



