26 WOLF'S WILD ANIMALS. 



cant of his enemies. At such times he keeps in the thickets, as much out of 

 sight as possible, shunning the company of even his own species, and remaining a 

 recluse until his horns are grown again. 



The rapidity with which the great antlers arrive at their full growth is 

 wonderful. Very soon after the horns have fallen off, a small knob appears on 

 each side of the head, covered with a soft substance usually known as velvet. 

 This is filled with blood, and serves to protect and also to nourish the horn during 

 the process of development. So tender are these at this period, that the least 

 blow or scratch upon the velvet, causes it to bleed freely, and it is on this account 

 that the deer usually keep retired and in concealment until the antlers are fully 

 grown. When they have become hard beneath their protecting envelope, the velvet 

 peels off in long shreds, exhibiting the horns of a pure white, which, however, 

 in the sun's rays, soon turns to a rich brown. 



During the spring and summer the females associate together in small 

 numbers, accompanied by their fawns. They have few means of defence, when thus 

 absent from their lords, and if set upon by any roving animal, are obliged to place 

 all their hope of escape in their speed. A most formidable enemy to them is the 

 Puma (or, as it is sometimes called, the North American lion), which fortunately 

 for them is but seldom met with. This animal is the largest and most powerful 

 of the cats which live in the districts inhabited by the Wapiti ; and, like all cats, it is 

 fond of living alone. Although chiefly nocturnal in its habits, it also prowls about 

 during the day, and with silent steps moves through the forest, intently on the 

 watch for any luckless creature that may be in its vicinity. 



This powerful animal is possessed of great cunning, as the following instance 

 will show. A hunter who had been in pursuit of a puma for the greater portion 

 of a day, after proceeding some time, observed that he came again and again upon 

 a man's track, mingled with that of the panther ; and he soon became conscious 

 that the crafty animal had made a circuit, and had got behind, having thus become 

 the pursuer, in place of remaining the pursued. Instead of going any farther, he 

 quietly stepped behind a tree, and with his gun presented and ready, awaited the 

 approach of his disagreeable attendant. Soon he saw the puma coming carefully 

 along, sniffing his tracks at intervals, and endeavouring to catch a glimpse of him 

 in front. Waiting a favourable moment, he fired from his concealment, and fortunately 

 killed the animal on the spot. It proved to be a male of the largest size. 



