206 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The favorite range of the moose, in so far as I can determine 

 from the statements of sportsmen, ranchers, and prospectors who 

 have frequented this country, is apparently the southeastern 

 slope of Moose Mountain, which lies within the Park. Though 

 their range is now less extensive than formerly, the numbers of 

 moose are increasing, doubtless due largely to the protection 

 afforded by the National Park and by the complete close season 

 which the laws of Idaho have recently established. One has no 

 difficulty in seeing specimens if ordinary caution is practised, 

 for the nature of the country makes the detection of the animal 

 considerably easier than in the moose ranges of Canada. 



The animals are small, the three living specimens which I 

 saw have not averaged over 500 to 650 pounds in weight, and 

 judging from the heads of the five other animals taken from this 

 district which I have seen this is not far below the average weight 

 of the adult animal. 



The color differs very materially from that of the eastern 

 moose. The Idaho moose are dark, almost black over the back, 

 sides, and neck, while the belly, the inside surface of the legs, 

 and the entire leg below the knee are dark gray, sometimes with 

 a brownish cast. During the spring and summer the color gen- 

 erally becomes lighter, but never as much so or as brown as the 

 Canadian moose. 



The animals, as a rule, have a well-formed " bell," either in 

 the shape of a long cylindrical appendage or as a heavy and 

 pendulous " dew-lap " ; the latter being apparently more charac- 

 teristic of the older animals. 



The head does not differ materially from that of the eastern 

 moose except in matters of color and size. As a rule, however, 

 the nose seems less heavy, and the size of the head, as com- 

 pared to the body, less massive ; this may, however, be due to the 

 very deficient antler development which all these animals show. 

 Of the nine heads which I have either seen or regarding which 

 I have secured accurate information only two show any attempt 

 at palmation. Of these nine heads, three were those of young 

 animals, but the others were adult or old specimens. The two 

 heads which presented palmation showed it only in very slight 

 degree, the blade of the largest not exceeding the breadth or 

 size of a man's hand. From the statements of reliable pioneers 

 and prospectors who have been familiar with these animals for 

 the last thirty years, I feel justified in stating that palmation is 

 rarely present, and never reaches a size which in any way ap- 

 proximates that seen in the eastern moose. As a rule the antlers. 



