282 THE MINDS AND MANNERS 



In fact, with several adult males in a small enclosure, tragedies 

 may always be expected in the autumn and early winter. 

 The process is very simple. So long as the two elk can stand 

 up and fight head to head, there are no casualties; but when 

 one wearies and weakens before the other, its guard is broken. 

 Then one strong thrust in its side or shoulder sends it to the 

 earth, badly wounded; and before it can rise, it is generally 

 stabbed to death with horn thrusts into its lungs and liver. 

 But, as I said before, I have never known of a fatal duel between 

 elk outside of a zoological garden or park. 



One of the most novel and interesting fights that has yet 

 taken place in the New York Zoological Park was a pitched 

 battle between two cow elk — May Queen and the Dowager. 

 A bunch of black fungus suddenly appeared on the trunk of 

 a tree, about twelve feet from the ground. My attention was 

 first called to this by seeing May Queen, a fine young cow, 

 standing erect on her hind legs in order to reach the tempting 

 morsel with her mouth. A little later the Dowager, the 

 oldest and largest cow elk in the herd, met her under the tree, 

 whereupon the two made wry faces at each other, and champed 

 their teeth together threateningly. Suddenly both cows rose 

 on their hind legs, struck out viciously with their sharp pointed 

 front hoofs, and, after a lively sparring bout, they actually 

 clinched. The young cow got both front legs of the old cow 

 between her own, where they were held practically helpless, 

 and then with her own front hoofs she fiercely rained blows 

 upon the ribs of her assailant. The Dowager backed away 

 and fled, completely vanquished, with May Queen close upon 

 her heels; and thus was the tyrannical rule of the senior cow 

 overthrown forever. 



During the breedingseason, our wild buffaloes of the great 

 vanished herds were much given to fighting, and always through 

 jealousy. The buUs bellowed until they could be heard for 

 miles, tore up earth and threw it into the air, rolled their eyes, 

 and often rushed together in a terrifying manner; but beyond 



