564 THE WAPITI. 



We now come to the Deer which inhabit the warm or temperate regions of the world, 

 and which include the greater portion of the family. The first on the list is the Wapiti, or 

 Carolina Stag. 



This magnificent animal is one of the largest of the Deer tribe, the adult male measuring 

 nearly five feet in height at the shoulders, and about seven feet nine inches from the nose to 

 the root of the tail. It is a native of North America, where it is popularly known under the 

 name of the Elk. 



The Wapiti lives in herds of variable numbers, some herds containing only ten or twenty 

 members, while others are found numbering three or four hundred. These herds are always 

 under the command of one old and experienced buck, who exercises the strictest discipline 

 over his subjects, and exacts implicit and instantaneous obedience. When he halts, the whole 

 herd suddenly stop, and when he moves on the herd follow his example. There must be some 

 method by which he communicates his orders to his followers, as the entire herd will wheel 

 right or left, advance or retreat, with an almost military precision. 



This position of dignity is not easily assumed, and is always won by dint of sheer strength 

 and courage, the post being held against all competitors at the point of the horn. The com- 

 bats that take place between the males are of a singularly fierce character, and often end in 

 the death of the weaker competitor. An instance is known where a pair of these animals have 

 perished in a manner similar to that which will be related of the carjacon, their horns having 

 been inextricably locked together, causing the poor creatures to die a sad death of hunger 

 and thirst. When attacked by the hunter, and wounded with a hurt that is not immediately 

 mortal, the Wapiti will turn fiercely on his opponent, and fight with the reckless courage of 

 despair. 



Although the bucks display such courage in fighting for their spouses, they treat them 

 very harshly when they have secured them, and always keep the poor creatures in constant 

 fear. It is not until they have lost their horns that the does seem to lose the feelings of terror 

 with which they regard their hard-hearted mates. 



Even in captivity the male Wapiti retains its combative nature, as may be seen from the 

 following anecdote, which is related in the work of Messrs. Audubon and Bachman. 



' ' A gentleman in the interior of Pennsylvania, who kept a pair of Elks (Wapitis) in a 

 large woodland pasture, was in the habit of taking pieces of bread or a few handfuls of corn 

 with him when he walked in the inclosure, to feed these animals, calling them up for the 

 amusement of his friends. Having occasion to pass through his park one day, and not having 

 furnished himself with bread or corn for his pets, he was followed by the buck, who expected 

 his usual gratification. The gentleman, irritated by the pertinacity with which he was accom- 

 panied, turned round, and picking up a small stick, hit the animal a smart blow ; upon which, 

 to his astonishment and alarm, the buck, lowering his head, rushed at him, and made a 

 furious pass with his horns. 



" Luckily he stumbled as he attempted to fly, and fell over the prostrate trunk of a tree 

 near which lay another log, and being able to throw his body between the two trunks, the Elk 

 was unable to injure him, although it butted at him repeatedly, and kept him prisoner for 

 more than an hour. Not relishing this proceeding, the gentleman, as soon as he escaped, gave 

 orders to have the unruly animal destroyed." 



The Wapiti is a good swimmer, and even when very young will fearlessly breast the 

 current of a wide and rapid river. Like many of the larger animals, it is fond of submerging 

 itself under water in the warm weather, for the sake of cooling its heated body, and of keep- 

 ing off the troublesome insects. It is also a good runner, and although burdened with its 

 large and widely branched horns, can charge through the forest haunts with perfect ease. In 

 performing this feat, it throws its head well back, so that the horns rest on the shoulders, and 

 shoots through the tangled boughs like magic, Sometimes a Wapiti will make a slight mis- 

 calculation in its leap, for Mr. Palliser saw one strike a small tree with its forehead so fiercely, 

 that the recoil of the elastic trunk threw the Wapiti fairly on its back upon the ice of a frozen 

 stream which it had just crossed. 



The food of the Wapiti consists of grass, wild pea-vine, various branches, and lichens. 



