164 



Life-histories of Northern Animals 



Since, then, the "bell" is a variable feature more or less 

 present in the young of both sexes, and tending to disappear 

 with age; it may be a character that is being lost, because no 

 longer answering any useful purpose. 



It is interesting to note that several animals have produced 

 ** Moose bells" on their throats as freaks. I have seen such 

 growths in common cattle, Belgian hares, Merino rams, and 

 once in a Cottontail (Fig. 78). They are usually associated 

 with other excessive developments of the skin and its products. 



SIGN How are we to know that there are Moose in a swamp 



since they never give us a chance to see them .? 



The sure, certain, lasting sign is the "fumet," or dung- 

 balls. These resemble in character 

 those of other large Deer, but their 

 size is distinctive. 



Another important sign is the 

 track. "Like the track of a cow, but 

 sharper," is the earliest description I 

 ever heard of it. This sign is soon 

 changed by weather and tells the ob- 

 server what time has elapsed since 

 the Moose was here. 



While feeding in winter the Moose 

 will chisel the bark off saplings with 

 its front teeth, as indeed do most Deer, 

 but the size of the mark and the height 

 from the ground will usually tell if such 

 a mark was made by a Moose. It is 

 often remarked that only one side of 

 the bark is thus taken, and therefore the tree survives. 



The nipping of twigs also at a great height is an im- 

 portant Moose sign. 



Other telltale marks are the scrapings of the trees with the 

 antlers and the deliberate crossing of bogs. In this last respect 

 the Moose is second only to the Caribou. An important sign 

 in fall is the wallow, fully described later. 



Fig. 78 — Cottontail Rabbit with bell like 

 that of a Moose. 



From specimen taken near Toronto, now in col- 

 lection of James H. Fleming. 

 Bell, 2% inches long. Second figure shows side 

 view and sections. 



