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 victory 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, 
