FAUNA AMERICANA. 231 



in the male; a very marked projection on the 

 withers ; back very straight from this point to the 

 tail, which is excessively short; legs very long 

 and thin ; metatarsal bone very long in proportion 

 to the metacarpal ; feet very long, and placed ob- 

 liquely upon the soil ; hairs coarse and prismatic, 

 very friable, those upon the nucha and withers 

 longer than on other parts, and forming a true 

 mane ; general colour fawn-brown on the top of 

 the head, the back and the rump ; of a deeper 

 brown beneath the lower jaw and neck, on the 

 shoulders, and arms as far as the wrist, upon the 

 flanks, the thighs, and the top of the hind legs; of 

 much more obscure brown before the anterior 

 legs, above the wrist, and on the anterior portion 

 of the hind feet ; ears grayish-brown externally, 

 of a whitish-gray within ; the under part of the 

 tail whitish : the young animal of a reddish-brown 

 colour, without spots. 



Habit. The moose live in small troops, in 

 swampy places. Their gait, which is commonly 

 a trot, is much less active than that of other deer. 

 They feed on the buds of trees and on herbs. 

 When they attempt to eat from the ground, they 

 are obliged, from the shortness of their neck, 

 either to kneel, or to separate their fore-legs. 

 The rutting season commences with them about 

 the end of August, and continues during the month 

 of September. The females bring forth from the 

 middle of May to the middle of June; the first 



