In North-West Canada. 177 



The moose is often killed by " calling " him to the hunter in 

 the rutting season by means of a birch-bark horn. In this 

 way the animal can be called within a few yards of the con- 

 cealed hunter. Another way of killing him is by the aid of a 

 bull's-eye lantern during night. The hunter paddles his canoe 

 along the margin of the lake or river, shining his lantern to- 

 wards the shore. In this way any moose or deer along the 

 lake shore are attracted by curiosity to approach the light, 

 and as their forms loom up in front of the hunter's canoe along 

 the beach they are easily shot down at close quarters. In 

 winter the moose is hunted on snow shoes, but this 

 method is unsportsmanlike. When the snow is deep the poor 

 moose flounders and sinks up the middle in the snow, while 

 the hunters run along the surface in their snow shoes. The 

 moose is soon tired out and the hunters easily overtake him, 

 killing the helpless creature at close quarters. 



According to Sir John Richardson, this animal has the 

 sense of hearing in very great perfection, and is the most shy 

 and wary of all the deer species, and on this account the art of 

 moose hunting is regarded as the greatest of an Indian's 

 acquirements, particularly by the Crees, who consider tliem- 

 selves al3le to instruct the hunters of every other tribe. The 

 flesh of the moose is very excellent. By nature the moose is 

 timorous, and when excited its weapons are its horns and 

 hoofs, and so forcibly does it strike with the latter .as to de- 

 stroy a wolf or other large animal at a single blow. At 

 such times the hair on its neck is said to bristle up like the 

 mane of a lion, which gives it a wild and frightful appearance. 

 The moose is found in Northern Europe, where it is known 

 as the elk. The distribution of this animal, both in Europe 

 and America, is remarkably alike, reaching to the Arctic coast 

 in both continents and extending southwards to the same iso- 

 therm. The moose is easily domesticated. Formerly these 

 animals were used in Sweden to draw sledges ; but, owing to 

 their speed in accelerating the flight of criminals, ^ their use 

 was prohibited under heavy penalties. 



The movements of the moose are very heavy, from the great 



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