THE OLD-IVORLD ELK 



young calves. For the first day or two they nursed 

 greedily from a bottle, he said, and then were 

 given over at meal times to a cow whose calf had 

 been taken from her. Soon the animals became 

 accustomed to each other, and when, five months 

 later, the two elk were taken from their foster 

 mother the cow seemed quite distressed at their 

 loss. 



After the first fortnight various bitter weeds 

 and twigs of mountain ash, aspen, and willow were 

 offered to the two calves, to learn their taste; they 

 were also gradually taught to eat oatmeal in milk. 

 When three months old they were given rye bread, 

 as well as crushed oats, but their favorite article of 

 food was tansy {Tanacetum vulgare). For winter 

 a large store of tansy was gathered and dried, and 

 a great quantity of willow twigs. When the first 

 snow came they were given the shelter of a stable. 

 Every morning they were turned loose for exercise. 

 They then browsed on the willow, eating the more 

 slender twigs, but only the bark of the larger sticks. 



The two calves were very playful, came when 

 called, and welcomed attentions from grown 

 people, but wished nothing to do with children. 



In the spring the two young elk began visiting 

 the neighboring village, belled like cattle. Their 

 dislike for children continued, but after one of 



