FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Food. — Particularly fond of aquatic plants, but feeding also 



on foliage and twigs of shrubs and trees. 

 Enemies. — Wolves; Bears; and Cougars. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Alces 



Common Moose; American Moose. — Alces americana ameri- 

 cana (Clinton). 

 As described above; the typical form of the group. Found 

 from the northern United States (east of the RocVy Moun- 

 tains) north to Hudson Bay and northwest beyond the 

 Arctic Circle. 



Shiras Moose. — Alces americana shirasi Nelson. 



Smaller than typical americana with pale brown along 

 the back, pale ears, and small hoofs. Found in the Yellow- 

 stone National Park region of Wyoming, in Montana and 

 Idaho; limits of range unknown. 



Lydekker Moose. — Alces columhce Lydekker. 



The original description is based upon two mounted heads 

 which are said to differ from other Moose in having a peculi- 

 arly shaped bare patch on muzzle which sends off an arm 

 onto each nostril (this patch is triangular in americana and 

 T-shaped in columbce). Some doubt exists as to whether 

 these heads came from British Columbia or Ontario. 

 Probably columbcB is indistinguishable from americana. 



Alaska Moose. — Alces gigas Miller. 



Much larger and blacker than the Common Moose. This 



species is much the finest of the genus and reaches superb 



dimensions. Total length up to 122 inches; height at 



withers, 81-92 inches; weight up to 1700 or 1800 pounds. 



Found on the Kenai Peninsula. 



******* 



The Moose is the grandest of all the North American Deer. 

 Although it is almost a caricature of the graceful forms of the 

 smaller Deer, and the heavy muzzle, the clumsy body-shape 

 (high at the shoulders), and the somber coloration without 

 relieving touch of contrasting white, certainly are not calcu- 

 lated to win a prize for beauty, there is a suggestion of mas- 

 sive strength and irresistable vigor about a Moose that is 

 certain to arouse a feeling of admiration, A bull Moose crash- 

 ing through brush and fallen timber, splashing thunder- 

 ously through the shallows of a northern lake, seems to be 

 moving as if nothing could stop him. 



The Moose is the largest of all the Deer and is found in 

 both the Old and New Worlds. In Europe it is known as the 

 Elk and this fact is a good reason for using the name Wapiti 

 for our large Deer, Cervus canadensis, which so many North 

 American sportsman call Elk. 



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