THE ELK. 
72 
means he avoids entangling them in the treeS' 
This altitude prevents his seeing the ground 
distinctly ; while the weight which he carri®* 
being borne very high upon his long legs-^ 
the effect of which peculiarity is increased ^1 
the height at which he steps — the animal 
apt to trip by treading on his fore-heels, 
the heavy falls which he consequently exp^' 
riences have given rise to the notion of h'* 
being subject to epilepsy. 
In winter, when the snows set in, and whe>' 
the wolves in particular, urged by hung^*^' 
assemble in troops to hunt those anim^^’ 
which they dare not attack singly, the eU^j 
assemble in herds for mutual protection 
warmth, in forests of pines and other ev^'^' 
greens. These herds consist of several faii>*' 
lies, the members of which keep very cla®^ 
together. In the severest frosts they pr^®’ 
one against another, or trot in a large cir^|^ 
till they have trodden down the snow. Th^’*^ 
