1838. HOUSE— No. 72. 29 



It is not at present found in the limits of Massachusetts. It herds 

 together in the winter, eight or ten individuals occupying a common 

 pen or enclosure during the whole season, unless disturbed by the 

 hunters. Its meat is excellent, being tender and well flavored, and 

 tasting more like beef than any other meat. The gait of the moose 

 is a long shambling trot ; at every step its hoofs spread apart, but 

 the moment the foot is raised, they are brought together with a crack 

 which may be heard at a distance. 



This animal has been domesticated and broken to the harness. 

 Under some circumstances it might be used to advantage. It is de- 

 sirable that so noble an animal should not be suffered to become ex- 

 tinct. It is, however, difficult to enforce laws enacted for their 

 preservation, so that it is probable, that in a few years not an indi- 

 vidual will remain, unless, indeed, enterprising persons should anti- 

 cipate a profit from domesticating a pair, and raising them for the 

 value of their meat. 



The following measurements I have taken from the skulls in my 

 possession : 



Length of the skull, from the occiput to the end of the maxillary 

 bones, 2 feet 2 inches. Breadth over the centre of the orbits, 7 

 inches. From the crest of the occiput to the eye, 8. Height of 

 the upper jaw, over the nasal and maxillary bones, 7j. From the 

 foramen magnum to the anterior portion of the maxillary bone, 1 foot 

 9 inches. Breadth of the jaw over the palatine bones and teeth, 5 

 inches ; over processes of the ossa malorum, 7f inches. Length of 

 the lower jaw, along the base, 1 foot 6 J inches. Distance from the 

 occiphal crest to a prominence between the horns, 4i inches. From 

 the prominence to depression in the os frontis, 2 inches. Amount 

 of depression in the os frontis, measured from a line drawn from the 

 prominence to the anterior portion of the nasal bones, Ij inch. 

 From the prominence to the lower end of the nasal bones, 9 inches. 

 From the lower end of the nasal bones, to the extreme of the maxil- 

 lary, lOj inches. From the centre of the horn to the centre of the 

 orbit of the eye, 3J inches. From the tip of one horn to the other, 

 2 feet 8 inches. Number of prongs, 8. Length of the horn, 2 feet 



4 inches. 



In conclusion, the undersigned begs leave to say, that most of the 



