26 WAPITI HUNTING. 



All of these are large handsome deer, with horns, that vary in 

 shape, length and thickness, but conform to the elaphine type (red- 

 deer type). 



For the present, however, wc need be concerned only with the 

 last four species, as belonging more especially to the Chinese fauna. 

 Of these the Thian Shan wapiti (C. songaricus) is undoubtedly 

 the largest rivalling the American wapiti (C. canadensis) in the length 

 and number of points of its horns. The record measurements of the 

 Ih'oms of the latter species are as follows: — length along beam 70:^- 

 inches, circumference 14-J inches, widest spread 68 inches. The best 

 records hitherto secured of the Thian Shan wapiti are: — 55 inches 

 in length, 8 inches in girth, with thirteen points. These 

 measurements it will be seen are far less than the American 

 records, but it must be taken into consideration that while thousands 

 of American wapiti have been shot and measured, the number of 

 Thian Shan stags shot up to date can almost be counted on the fingers 

 of one hand. The same applies to most of the Asiatic species. 



The next in sizC' to the Thian Shan wapiti is the closely allied 

 Kansu wapiti (C. kansucnsis) described as a distinct species within 

 the last two or three years. The only records I can find of this deer 

 are those of two stags secured on an expedition into Western China 

 carried out by Mr. George Fen wick-Owen in 1911. The measurements 

 of the best stag are: — length 43J inches, circumference 5i inches, 

 widest spread 38i inches. This stag had eleven points. His com- 

 panion Mr. H. F. Wallace, who describes the hunting of these deer and 

 other big game in his book "Big Game of Central and Western China," 

 secured a stag, whose horn hiad a circumference of 5f inches. These 

 deer were secured in the Min Chou district of South-western Kansu. 



Of the Szechuan wapiti (C macncilli) no horn measurements 

 have yet been published that I know of, the species Laving been 

 described from a doe. 



The Manchurian wapiti (C. xanthopygus) is an animal differing 

 from the western forms in having a greyer coat and shorter but com- 

 paratively stouter horns. Its record measurements are: — length 33J 

 inches, circumference 5f inches, widest spread 21-i inches. 



This deer inhabits the heavily forested districts of Kiriu and Hei- 

 lung-chiang, and, like the others, is mucli persecuted for the sake of 

 its horns, which, however, are considered of a superior quality. 



In North Shansi a wapiti is found, which up to the present has 

 not been definitely identified as belonging to any of the species already 



