TRAITS AND HABITS OF THE ELK 311 



the boys of the village had been knocked down by a 

 pair of angry hoofs the children ceased to approach 

 them. Their feed was now marsh hay, tansy, 

 two or three handfuls of oats, and twice a day a 

 dish of willow bark steeped with oatmeal. In 

 addition they frequently received bread from 

 members of the household. They were often 

 admitted to the house, where they were given free 

 range to roam about. It was necessary, however, 

 to cover a certain mirror, for both betrayed a 

 disposition to attack their reflection in the glass 

 with their hoofs whenever they saw it. At such 

 visits they always received pieces of bread, and 

 soon they learned to make straight for the house 

 in the morning, ascend the six steps of the porch, 

 and beat on the door until bread was brought to 

 them. They drank little water, even in summer. 



They were returned to their enclosure in the 

 garden in May, 1871, but at first seemed lonesome, 

 eating only when people w^re present, and making 

 unmusical calls when left to themselves. They 

 ate whatever was offered to them, including apples, 

 cucumbers, and cabbage leaves, but always pre- 

 ferring tansy, which they would eat, roots and all. 



They visited the village freely in the winter of 

 1871-72, especially certain houses where they had 

 been given delicacies to eat. At one house they 



