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American Elk — Part 2
Images coming soon.
George Bird Grinnell has recently given us an excellent pen picture of a herd of elk which we cannot do better than quote. He writes: "From a distant ravine comes the shrill sweet whistle of a great bull elk as the utters his bold challenge to all rivals far and near. You can see him plainly as he walks out from the timber and slowly climbs the hill, followed by the group of watchful cows; and he is a splendid picture. Short-bodied, strong-limbed, round and sleek-coated, he is a marvel of strength if not of grace. His yellow body is in sharp contrast with the dark brown head and name, and the hugely branching antlers, wide spread and reaching far back over his shoulders, seem almost too much for him to carry; so that as he marches along with ponderous tread each step seems to shake the earth. At intervals he throws back his head and utters his wild call, and before its first notes reach the ear you can see the white steam of his breath as it pours forth into the frosty air. His cows feed near to him as he steps along or if one straggles too far he moves slowly toward her, and shaking his mighty horns warns her to return. If you fire a shot at one of that band, speedily the old bull will show himself the herder and protector of his family. Rushing about from point to point he will gather up cows and calves into a close bunch and will drive them off over the hills, threatening the laggards with his horns and using them too with cruel effect if the cows do not hurry. No chivalry this on the part of the old bull. . . . He drives them forward not because he wishes to protect them from death, but because the cows are his and he does not intend to be robbed of his wives and children."
Varieties of the Elk
As with most animals of wide range the elk varies in different parts of its habitat. Three varieties have been described and it is probable that the animals formerly inhabiting the Eastern States differed somewhat from the Rocky Mountain elk. Lack of specimens will however probably leave this question forever in doubt.
1. American Elk. Cervus canadensis (Erxl.) Described above, range west to and including the Rocky Mountains.
2. Roosevelt's Elk. Cervus occidentalis Smith. Larger and darker coloured, with heavier horns.
3. Merriam's Elk. Cervus merriami Nelson. Nose darker and head and legs redder than C. canadensis, but not so dark as C. occidentalis. Skull very massive, broader than either of the above. Antlers straighter at the tips.