ELK OR WAPITI

THE TWO BULL ELK WALKING SIDE BY SIDE BREAK INTO A TROT, THEN THEY RUN TWO HUNDRED YARDS ACROSS THE MEADOW THEY WHEEL AND WALK BACK SEVERAL  TIMES THEY PACE, SWEEPING ANTLERS LOW TO THE GROUND AT EACH TURN. GLINTING ANTLERS AND DARK BODY PARTS CATCH THE RIVALS EYE TO SNOW OFF SIZE AND STRENGTH. THUS THEY DUAL DOMINANCE.

SPECIAL BRAIN CELLS-IN ANIMALS AS WELL AS HUMANS-REACT TO SHARP EDGES MOVING ACROSS THE LINE OF VISION. ELK ANTLERS PRESENT SUCH SHARP EDGES. BUT THE ANTLERS ARE NOT MERELY SYMBOLS; THEY ARE STURDY ENOUGH TO ABSORB A RIVALS THRUST-AND STRAIGHT ENOUGH TO PREVENT ENTANGLEMENT ANTLERS RARELY LOCK.

ELK, CALLED WAPITI BY SHAWNEE INDIANS< STAND UP TO 5 FEET (152 CM) AT THE SHOULDER AND WEIGH  AS MUCH AS 1,100 POUNDS (500 KG)...................