1841.] true Stag, or Elaphoid form of Cervus* 739 



ponderous, with stouter limbs, shorter in proportion, and terminated 

 by broader and more ox-like hoofs ; at least the inner hoof of their 

 cleft fore-feet (more especially) is much widened. The full grown male, 

 in winter mc^re particularly, has a peculiar character in a sort of beard 

 pendent from the throat, in aspect not unlike a dewlap ; besides which, 

 as in the European species, the hair is in winter lengthened around the 

 neck, only not so coarse as in that animal. The summer hue of both 

 sexes is very bright rufous, darker on the head and neck ; and the 

 male is seldom without some appearance of the throat beard, though 

 his neck becomes quite smooth ; in the course of a few weeks only, 

 the tips of the hairs begin to fall off, and the colouring is thus rendered 

 nearly similar to that of winter, save that the hues are much less 

 finely brought out ; at which latter season the Wapiti is clad with long- 

 er hair, of a pale lilac-chocolate colour, approaching to whitish in 

 fine males, with the limbs, lower part of the neck, and under-parts, 

 dark and deep russet brown ; colours which are not so intensely con- 

 trasted in the females and younger males. The fawn is but slightly 

 menilled on the sides, and it is remarkable that there is no trace of the 

 usual row of large spots on each side of the dorsal line, which alone 

 are permanent in the European Stag. Whether the same is observable 

 in the young of other species of this group, I have not now the 

 means of ascertaining. The general colour of the Wapiti fawn is deep 

 rufous brown, fainter on the sides, and still more so on the under-parts, 

 (whereas the adults are there darker) ; the face, the neck partly, and im- 

 mediately above the hoofs, being much darker ; a black line passes along 

 the back, and there is a streak of the same, as usual, over each eye. 

 The characteristic expression of its species is strongly marked from the 

 first. They do not acquire their full growth under four or five years 

 at least, (like the European Stag) ; but, as in the rest of the genus, can 

 propagate at eighteen months old. Mr. Bullock states, that one five years 

 of age stood four feet and a half high, and was nine feet in total length. 

 These younger Wapiti have more the aspect of the European species, 

 and, like the female, shew little trace of the throat-beard, nor have they 

 much lengthened hair round the neck. The fully adult female more 

 resembles the European hind, than is the case with the mature males 

 of these species, with all their distinctive characters fully developed. 

 At the same time, I have observed that some European Stags have 



