THE STAG OF CANADA. 99 
years so many acts of retaliation—yes, and treachery—have 
been practiced by the white man upon the aborigines, that 
the aborigines are too apt to regard all pale-faces as their 
natural-born enemies. Thus, to shoot Wapitti will proba- 
bly entail shooting savages; for if you are not prepared 
to do so in self-defense, it is highly improbable that you 
will return to the land of your nativity to relate your 
knowledge of their habits, or the success you have had in 
their pursuit. 
The stag of Canada—for by this name the Wapitti is sci- 
entifically known—is essentially gregarious, and sometimes 
herds amount to hundreds; but as a rule they will be found 
assembled in coteries of a dozen or more, the females inva- 
riably performing the duties of sentinels; and although they 
are less difficult of approach than either the Virginian or 
black-tailed deer, still it is necessary for the stalker never 
to disregard wind and intervening obstacles if he desires to 
get sufficiently close to the game to deal it a certain shot. 
In very stormy weather, particularly if it be accompanied 
with snow, however, I have known them possess the utmost 
indifference to man’s presence, so that even after being 
wounded they would scarcely move above a few yards 
from the place where they had been stricken. In fact, 
under such circumstances, they appear to get confused and 
afraid to flee, lest the herd should become separated and 
broken up. On such occasions as these the Indians make 
great havoc among them; for it is a peculiarity of this race 
that they never cease from slaughter while a survivor re- 
mains within their reach. One would imagine that expe- 
rience would teach them otherwise, for there is scarcely a 
year that these aborigines are not reduced to the most des- 
perate straits from famine; but their improvidence is in- 
herent, and to the end of time they will practice the adage, 
“ Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” 
