MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. a a Ne 
. like organ,adapted to be used in the excavation of food buried 
beneath the snows of the frozen regions chiefly inhabited by the 
animal. Though, as before said, relatively short, being rarely 
over twenty-five to thirty inches long, the antlers of the moose 
are remarkably massive and strong, and may weigh from fifty 
to sixty pounds. That such appendages form very effective 
weapons is obvious at a glance. Three months is required to 
complete the growth of the antlers in the adult male, which re- 
moves the velvetin September. For nearly two months during 
the rutting season, the antlers continue to receive nourishment, 
and the antlers may be worn to January, February, or even 
March following. The young carry the antlers longer; for 
instance, the young bull moose gains its first antler, consisting 
of a small cylindrical dag, in its second summer, and carries it 
until April or May following. Theantlers of the next year are 
bifurcate. These appendages continue to. increase in size at 
least to the age of seven years. One to three short tines are 
added, but not with sufficient regularity to serve as a trust- 
worthy criterion for estimating the age. It is said that 
although the antlers are used as well as the feet in the cyclo- 
pean conflicts of the males, only the latter are employed 
against dogs, wolves, etc., as though, possibly, the noble 
weapons nature furnishes were designed only for use in strife 
with their peers. 
The hair which is coarse, stiff and brittle, is very abundant 
upon the neck and shoulders, often forming a shaggy mane. 
In summer the coat is more glossy and resembles that of the 
horse. The color is brown or blackish-brown and admits of a 
rather wide range of variation. Below, the color is lighter, as 
also the middle of the nose and insides of the ears. 
The females lack the horns and are considerably smaller and 
lighter colored, at least in the winter pelage. A full-grown 
male may weigh 1,500 pounds. One or two young (very rarely 
three) are produced and are very carefully secreted and vigi- 
lantly guarded. Uvpon occasion the mother, in protecting her 
offspring, may display great ferocity, which is rendered the 
more formidable because of the gigantic size and threatening 
aspect of the beast. The family relations of the moose indi- 
cate greater fidelity than in any other American deer. Al- 
though this constancy is limited to a single season, they are 
more nearly monogamic than most of our large quadrupeds. 
~ Of external sexual distinctions it remains to mention the 
‘bell’ or dew-lap of the moose, which is so nearly confined to 
