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Elaphine Group 



deer are very promiscuous, consuming alike grass, rank herbage or various 

 kinds, and the leaves of deciduous trees ; while in winter scarcely any kind of 

 vegetable matter comes amiss. Leaves and twigs seem, however, to afford 

 decidedly the most favourite nutriment ; and among the Woburn herd the 

 hinds, at least, can always be attracted to the fence of their paddock by 

 offering them leafy boughs. Gregarious at all times, the stags keep more 

 or less separate from the hinds at the season when the fawns are born, 

 which is during May and June. At this time even the hinds scatter, the 

 stags collecting in small parties by themselves ; the latter, when in mountain 

 districts, ascending to within a short distance of the snow-line. With the 

 commencement of August the scattered groups begin to collect, and as 

 September draws nigh, when the pairing-season is at its height, the old 

 stags gradually collect around them a party of hinds, from which the smaller 

 males are, so far as possible, driven away. The latter, however, hover 

 about in the vicinity of the party, and seize every opportunity of drawing a 

 straggling hind away from her allegiance. During this season the old 

 stags are continually roaring ; and the roar must be heard to be fully 

 realised, as no description will give any adequate idea of its peculiar sound. 

 Still it may be described with considerable approach to accuracy as a kind 

 of squeal, ending up with several hoarse, guttural grunts. During the 

 time that the old stag has his harem with him, he treats its various members 

 badly, always endeavouring to wrest from them the choicest food, and 

 enforcing his claim with his antlers. Although in a wild state wapiti are 

 stated to be prevented by their natural timidity from attacking any but the 

 members of their own kind, in confinement old stags are vicious during 

 the pairing-season, and rush at all persons approaching their enclosure. 



After the pairing - season wapiti collect in large herds, which used 

 formerly to number several hundred individuals, and wander about for a 

 time till they finally select their winter feeding-grounds. These are usually 

 open hills where the ground is kept more or less free of snow by the wind, 

 50 that such food as there is at this season may be obtained with the least 

 difficulty. During the hot weather, when they are much persecuted by 

 rlies and mosquitoes, wapiti resort to water, in which they will stand for 

 hours ; and, in the pairing-season at least, the old stags are fond of wallowing 

 in mud-holes, from which they emerge coated with dirt, and presenting 

 anything but a prepossessing appearance. The antlers are shed in March, 



