38 THR FUR COUNTRY, stags, roebucks, grey elks and red elks, &c. These graceful creatures have slender legs and brown skins with patches of red hair, the colour of which becomes darker in the warmer season. The fierce males are easily distinguished from the females by their fine white antlers, the latter being entirely without these ornaments. These wapitis were once very numerous all over North America, and the United States imported a great many ; but clearings were begun on every side, the forest trees fell beneath the axe of the pioneer of civilisation, and the wapitis took refuge in the more peaceful dis- tricts of Canada ; but they were soon again disturbed, and wandered to the shores of Hudson's Bay. So that although the wapiti thrives in a cold country, Lieutenant Hobson was right in saying that it seldom penetrates beyond 57° N. latitude ; and the specimens now found had doubtless fled before the Chippeway Indians, who hunt them without mercy. The wapitis were so engrossed in their desperate struggle that they were unconscious of the approach of the hunters ; but they would probably not have ceased fighting had they been aware of it. Marbre and Sabine, aware of their pecutiarity in this respect, might therefore have advanced fearlessly upon them, and have taken aim at leisure. Lieutenant Hobson suggested that they should do so. "Beg pardon, sir,*' replied Marbre; *' but let us spare our pow- der and shot. These beasts are engaged in a war to the death, and we shall arrive in plenty of time to pick up the vanquished."
- ' Have these wapitis a commercial value % " asked Mrs Paulina
Barnett. " Yes, madam," replied Hobson ; " and their skin, which is not quite so thick as that of the elk, properly so called, makes very valuable leather. By rubbing this, skin with the fat and brains of the animal itself, it is rendered flexible, and neither damp nor dry- ness injures it. The Indians are therefore always eager to procure the skins of the wapitis." " Does not the flesh make admirable venison 1 " " Pretty good, madam ; only pretty good. It is tough, and does not taste very nice ; the fat becomes hard directly it is taken from the fire, and sticks to the teeth. It is certainly inferior as an article of food to the flesh of other deer ; but when meat is scarce we are glad enough to eat it, and it supports life as well as anything else."
