312 



THE OLD-WORLD ELK 



were accustomed to receive bread spread with 

 honey, and if on entering they could not find their 

 host they made nothing of going up stairs in 

 search of him. At the village inn they were enter- 

 tained by the innkeeper's son, but one day, in the 

 son's absence, when they stood knocking at the 

 door, the father drove them away with a whip. 

 His back was scarcely turned when they came 

 back and shattered the door with their hoofs. 

 The owner of the elk paid for the needed repairs, 

 and the elk continued their visits. They were in 

 good health through the winter, except once from 

 an unknown cause their bodies became bloated, but 

 this was relieved by rubbing and by an injection. 



In March, 1872, the female lost her life in a frolic 

 with her brother. They enjoyed throwing each 

 other down in playful attacks, but one day the 

 young female was accidentally thrown through the 

 latticed cover of a well and killed. The young 

 bull stood as if transfixed at the sight, until he was 

 led away. For a week the survivor made many 

 visits every day to the well, seeking his playmate, 

 and endeavored in vain to raise the new and 

 heavier cover which replaced the broken one. 



Two "spikes" grew from the forehead of the 

 young bull in April, 1872, attaining in two weeks a 

 length of more than four inches. Twice a year, 



