AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
FOR THE 
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VOLUME XXV— No. 10. 
NEW- YORK, OCTOBER, 1866. 
NEW SERIES— No. 237. 
THE ELK, OR "WAPITI. 
[COPYRIGHT SECCRKD.] 
• (Cervus Canadensis.) — De.\.wn from life 
Tliis most graceful and beautiful of the larger 
deers is a native of all the Northern United 
States, though in several of them it is now ex- 
tinct. An old elk stag is a noble animal in his 
whole style and bearing. The poets of Europe, 
from early to the latest times, have been inspired 
by their stag, which is smaller and has less of 
forest-lord dignity than ours, though they are 
veiy similar. Sir. John Bell, the naturalist and 
taxidermist, has been filling a large order for 
the king of Italy, and seeing 17 of these elks at 
his farm a few days since, we engaged our 
artist to sketch them for this engraving. The 
elk breeds freely in confinement, and when it 
is possible to fence them iu, so as to enclose 
them upon recently cleared wood land, growing 
up full of under-brush and young wood they 
thrive, and may be reared for market with 
greater ease and at a less expense than beef. 
Such at least is the testimony of Mr. Stratton of 
Cattaraugus Co. Their natural food is about 
the same as that of cattle and slieep. The stng 
FOR THE American Agriculturist. 
sheds his horns annually in earl)- spring, and 
gains them again during the summer. Tlie tlesli 
of the elk is delicate and highly esteemed in our 
markets; the hide makes buck-skin, and the 
horns furnish handles for cutlery, etc. It seems a 
pity that our rushing, money making, " march of 
empire " does not provide for tlie profitable cul- 
ture of such beautiful and useful animals upon 
the rough mountain ranges on which they would 
thrive, and not drive them, with the red man, 
aoi'oss the plains, and to ultimate extinction. 
