TRAITS AND HABITS OF THE ELK 307 



melfliegen, are said to be known in America.'^ 

 The winged females of these pests surround and 

 torment the elk in the spring, and deposit their 

 larvae in his nostrils, causing inflammation. The 

 larvae spread through the nose and throat, and 

 even the larynx, interfering with the victim's 

 breathing and with swallowing. When fully grown 

 (at the expense of the elk, of course), these para- 

 sites leave their host by the nostrils or mouth, 

 and change into their chrysalis form in the earth. 

 If in poor physical condition, elk are not infre- 

 quently killed by this agency. In the southern 

 portions of the elk's European range these attacks 

 seem to be most frequent. The presence of these 

 parasites is generally indicated by the elk coughing, 

 which is noticed early in March. Dissection of 

 victims often discloses masses of the maggots in 

 the windpipe. 



Many eff^orts have been made to domesticate 

 the elk, and with varying degrees of success. 



In the reign of Charles IX. [of Sweden] elk were 

 made use of for the purpose of conveying couriers, 

 and were capable of accomplishing thirty-six 



»°Martenson, p. 47. Jfwmwe/^jege may be translated "drone-fly"; 

 it is not, however, the. common drone-fly of America {Eristalis tenax). 

 The latter is of the family of Syrphidce, while the bot-flies are of the 

 family of CEstrid(B. 



