Wapiti 



99 



coextensive with that of the bison, both species using the same trails, 

 feeding-grounds, and licks among the Western Alleghanies, and passing 

 thence eastwards by the same routes to the Delaware valley. The wapiti 

 was most numerous among the elevated mountain glades and eastern 

 tributaries of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers. It was also fairly 

 abundant in the early part of the century in Clinton, Potter, Tioga, and 

 Lycoming counties. The range of the wapiti and bison into the south 

 central counties of Pennsylvania, east of Fulton county, is very improbable, 

 if, indeed, they ever wandered so far. The main line of their eastern range 

 was probably along the valley of Castleman's River in Somerset county and 

 the main ridge of the Alleghany Mountains near that place, which formed 

 a continuous trail of safety between their haunts in West Virginia and the 

 Keystone State. North of this region their range probably spread north- 

 eastward as far south as the Juniata valley, but by far the greatest number 

 did not come south of the east and west branches of the Susquehana. The 

 presence of an Elk Mills and Elk Creek in Chester county, and of an Elkton 

 in Cecil county, Maryland, would indicate their former presence in that 

 vicinity, probably only as stragglers along the Susquehana valley." 



Incessant persecution is telling on the numbers of both the American 

 races of the wapiti very severely, although it may be hoped the day is far 

 distant when they will meet the fate which has already befallen the bison. 

 East of the Mississippi there is said to be only a single locality where they 

 exist in the wild state ; and although some are reported to remain in the 

 forests of Lower Michigan, their days are probably numbered. At present 

 to the westward of the Missouri, in the more remote districts of Montana, 

 Wyoming, and Colorado, as well as in the Rocky Mountains, there are 

 localities where the wapiti is still fairly abundant, yet its numbers are now 

 to be reckoned by hundreds, instead of by thousands, as in the olden days. 



Habits. — By an unfortunate misapplication of terms, the wapiti is very 

 generally known in America as the elk ; and the reader of American 

 sporting works must consequently be on his guard against confusing the 

 animal under consideration with the one to which the latter title pertains. 



The accounts of the habits of the wapiti, both from the point of view 

 of the sportsman and of the naturalist, are numerous, although the majority 

 are based on the excellent description given by Mr. Caton, from which the 

 following observations are in great part condensed. As regards food, these 



