208 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



even of adult animals, consist only of the anterior spikes, usually 

 two, three, or four in number. The spread of the widest specimen 

 seen by me did not exceed 75 cm. I have received an account of 

 an adult bull, killed near the North Fork fifteen years ago during 

 the month of September, which showed no antler development. 

 I am somewhat sceptical, however, in regard to the accuracy of 

 this observation. 



The antlers are apparently dropped during January. The new 

 growth begins during March or April, and the recent antlers 

 remain covered with the skin until September or early October, 

 when they begin to peel. 



The body presents few variations from that seen in the eastern 

 animal except that it is perhaps relatively somewhat shorter. No 

 gross variations in myology or osteology are apparent. 



The feet differ quite materially from those of the eastern 

 moose, so much so that the tracks might easily be mistaken for 

 those of some other animal by one familiar with the ordinary 

 moose only. The hoofs are relatively longer, more lanceolate, 

 and as a rule the points are more acute. In walking even on 

 soft ground the hoofs do not spread widely, as do those of the 

 Canadian animal, and the imprint of the " dew-claws " is less fre- 

 quently seen. The size of the hoof in proportion to the animal 

 bulk also seems to be less. Tracks of 10 to 12 cm. in breadth 

 by 13 to 14 cm. in length are considered to be of large size among 

 these animals. In general, the tracks of an unusually large animal 

 in Idaho would about equal that of a small or medium-sized moose 

 in Ontario or Quebec. The hoofs are jet black in color as a rule. 

 As in the Canadian animal some of the specimens have a tuft 

 of slightly greenish hair in the cleft of the hoof. The spongy 

 portion of the foot is more firm and highly keratinized than 

 usual, and even the softer heel pads are sharply corrugated and 

 very hard. Taken as a whole one cannot but be impressed with 

 the idea that this hoof is particularly well adapted for the rock 

 climbing which characterizes this variety of moose. 



Though I have dissected but five eastern moose, and do not 

 therefore feel very well qualified to judge as to anatomical facts 

 in regard to this Idaho moose, it appears to me that the viscera 

 in the two specimens which I have dissected show no more than 

 a normal amount of variation in form and arrangement. 



The Idaho moose differs chiefly in its altered habitat and mode 

 of life. Though, as has been shown in the description of the 

 country in which these animals are seen, range and food mate- 

 rials closely resembling those familiar to the eastern moose are 



