66 Moose Deer, — Alces Americana, 



" The moose above alluded to was a great favorite witli a young girl, 

 who used to visit him several times a day, playing with him and giving him 

 such delicacies as were most grateful to his epicurean palate (by the way, 

 he acquired a strong predilection for boiled, mashed potatoes,) and the moose 

 always showed the greatest pleasure when she was present. But one day, in 

 a frolicksome mood, she bound some gaily colored ribbons in her hair, leaving" 

 the ends loose and fluttering, surmounting the whole by a tall and flaunting 

 plume. Thus attired she slowly approached the moose, while we stood 

 watching and wondering how he would recognise her. At length, gently 

 and in perfect silence, she stood beside the moose, and he slowly and haughtily 

 turned his head, surveying her strange appearance with the most inefiable 

 contempt. At last, utterly unable to repress her mirth at the ridiculous 

 scene, she gave way to a fit of loud joyous merriment. The wonted sound 

 seemed to affect the moose, and he partially turned his head away, then took 

 another survey of her strange appearance and his eyes suddenly lit up with a 

 red savage, fiery light, and he struck her forcibly with his fore foot, and, 

 had it not been for instant assistance, would probably have killed her. He 

 never afterwards would permit her to approach him, showing signs of dis- 

 content and anger if she came within ten or twelve rods of him, and if (when 

 at liberty in the field) he ever saw her he would instantly rush to attack her> 

 Two or three times, when escaping into the house, she had not time to shut 

 the door, and the revengeful beast followed her into the rooms, to the great 

 detriment of the furniture. We have often heard of a bull in a crockery 

 shop, but fancy a moose in a parlor. And if I was not present, no other- 

 person could eject him, but he would instantly cohk; at my call and be obe- 

 dient and submissive ; and if at any time this strange creature fancied itself 

 not sufficiently noticed or petted by me, it would utter most piteous criea 

 imtil it attracted attention, 



'•The animal in a wild state is very lithe and supple, turning itself 

 about and bending its form as easily as an ordinary dog, frequently standing 

 in the most singular postures. It also frequently crawls on its knees, to pascj 

 under logs, &c., and drinks, in very shoal water, in the same position." 



In feeding, they use their long upper lip to clasp the twigs and leaves. 

 In peeling the branches and small saplings, they place the hard roof of the 

 mouth upon one side and the teeth of the lower jaw upon the other, by which, 

 means they speedily strip off the bark. 



The foUowii^ account of the methods of hunting the Moose was writ- 

 ten by Mr. Kendall, of Quebec, and published in Audubon and Bachman'3 

 Quadrupeds of North America : — 



" The seasons for hunting the moose are March and September. la 

 March, when the sun melts the snow on the surface and the nights arc 

 frosty, a crust is formed, which greatly impedes the animals progress, as it 

 has to lift its feet perpendicularly out of the snow or cut the skin from its- 

 shanks by coming in contact with the icy surface, 



"It would be useless to follow them when the snow is soft, as their 

 great strength enables them to wade through it without any difficulty. If 



