HABIT AND DOMESTICATION. 291 



over him and his own late companions with whom, but the day 

 before, he had grazed some secluded corner of the park in peace 

 and friendship. His continued reign, however, is not always 

 assured, for once, at least, I observed that the deposed monarch, 

 after recruiting for a week or ten days, had attacked and deposed 

 the usurper, who again retired to private life with the best grace 

 possible. The does seem to look upon these struggles with great 

 indifference. What matter to them whether a Bourbon or a 

 Bonaparte rules, as it is nothing but tyranny always, at least 

 during this exciting season? 



About the commencement of the rut, the male Elks have fre- 

 quent battles to settle the question not only of sovereignty^ but of 

 superiority ; nor are these settled by a single victorj^ between the 

 individuals. While it is rare that one is actually injured by these 

 contests, they are sometimes fatal. I have lost two adult Elks in 

 this way. In the fall of 1875, one was found badly gored, and 

 appeared to have been dead several days, and in November, 

 1876, the monarch was found dead, exhibiting many wounds. 

 Like the other deer, the Elk always join battle with a rush, when 

 the shock is really terrific, and the clash of antlers may be heard 

 for a great distance ; they then push and worry each other for a 

 time, till one finds himself to a disadvantage in some way, when 

 he will quickly jump to one side and course around a little way 

 and again face his antagonist, when another rush and collision 

 takes place ; and this may be repeated several times before one 

 finally acknowledges defeat. In none of the battles which have 

 been witnessed in my grounds, has either sustained injury, so 

 that I cannot explain the incidents of those which have been ac- 

 companied with fatal results, but probably some obstacle has in- 

 tervened which prevented the escape of the vanquished, which 

 has always been effected when the contests have been observed. 

 I have never witnessed one, of these meetings myself, but several 

 have occurred in view of my men, who had received particular 

 instructions how to observe, and from them I have obtained what 

 I believe to be full and reliable information. 



The Wapiti is much better adapted to domestication than any 

 of the other deer with which I have experimented. In the first 

 place, they are much more healthy. Indeed, I never had a sick 

 Elk in my grounds to my knowledge. They are liberal feeders, 

 no doubt, but then they are not particular about their diet. 

 Mildness and timidity are not so ingrained with them as with 

 the others. The men who feed them in winter go among them. 



