282 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 
sufficiently observe the animal in various circumstances and con- 
ditions, to determine his real nature. 
There is not the least reason to believe that our Elk have ever 
shown belligerent dispositions in the wild state, except towards 
each other. Although very powerful animals, they are timid and 
wary. They do not confine themselves to a limited range, but 
are liable to roam over extensive districts of country : now high 
up the mountains, again in the deep catfions or fertile valleys, and 
again, far out on the plains along the borders of some water- 
course. 
When carefully studied in parks, they manifest dispositions 
not altogether lovely, nor yet desperately wicked. The males 
show no sense of gallantry towards the females, nor do any of 
them manifest a sympathy for each other. At any time the 
buck will drive the doe ruthlessly from any choice thing she may 
be eating, in his brutish selfishness, having not the least regard 
for anything but his own gratification. Even in the season of 
love, as we shall see, he rules his harem with a brutal despotism, 
without the least manifestation of affection. Even with the 
females, only the maternal instinct shows any trait of tenderness 
or regard for the comfort or welfare of another. Indeed, the 
doe is much more likely to ill treat a young member of the fam- 
ily, not her own, than a buck. If the latter will drive it away 
quietly, the former will hit it a fearful bat if it comes in her 
way, and if she knocks it down, she will very likely stamp it to 
death. I have lost two Elk, less than a year old, by being thus 
roughly handled. One had received a blow on the back, and it 
never again rose to its feet without assistance. When it was re- 
ported to me as ill, I went and examined it. Suspecting the 
trouble, I pressed my finger along the spinal column without 
its flinching, till two thirds back from the shoulders to the hips, 
when it fairly screamed, in so piercing a tone that it startled me, 
and its whole frame quivered from the pain. It must have been a 
fearful blow to have thus disabled the poor thing. It died in 
two days in spite of all I could do for it. The other I found 
bruised in a frightful way, indicating that it had been murdered 
in malicious wickedness. J am sorry to write such unkind things 
of pets, for which I have kindly cared for so many years, but I 
must tell the truth. 
I think the females show more real courage than the males. I 
was once driving through the park, when we observed an old doe 
whose anxious look excited suspicion; we hitched the horses, and 
