138 MAMMALIA. 



law might not be enacted and enforced in our own State with like 

 good results. 



NOTES ON EXTERMINATED AND EXTINCT UNGULATES. 



NOTE i. It is not many years since the Moose (Alee Americana s} 

 was a favorite object of pursuit in the Adirondacks, from which 

 region it was exterminated, as nearly as I can ascertain, about the 

 year 1861. 



Dr. DeKay, in his Zoology of New York, said of these animals : 

 " They are yet numerous in the unsettled portions of the State, in 

 the counties of Essex, Herkimer, Hamilton, Franklin, Lewis, and 

 Warren ; and since the gradual removal of the Indians, they are 

 now (1841) believed to be on the increase .... The Moose 

 furnishes an excellent material from its hide for moccasins and 

 snow-shoes. The best skin is obtained from the bull Moose in 

 October, and usually sells for four dollars. They were formerly so 

 numerous about Raquet Lake, that the Indians and French Cana- 

 dians resorted thither to obtain their hides for this purpose ; and 

 hence we have the origin of the name of that lake, the word raqnet 

 meaning snow-shoes. They still exist in its neighborhood." 



The Moose is a huge animal, the adult males often standing six 

 feet in height at the shoulders, and exceeding a thousand pounds 

 in weight, Evidence of its former presence here may still be seen 

 in various parts of the Wilderness, where the long scars of its 

 " peelings " yet remain. These commonly consist of small soft or 

 swamp maples (Acer rubrnm L.) and striped maples (A. Pcnnsyl- 

 vanicum L.) from which the bark has been stript, from a short 

 distance above the ground to the height of eight or even ten feet. 

 This bark, together with the branches of the same tree, and several 

 kinds of browse, constitute its principal food in winter. In sum- 

 mer it feeds also upon marsh grasses and aquatic plants, notably 

 upon the roots of the pond lily. 



