150 NOVA SCOTIA. 



after calling unsuccessfully of an evening, I have known 

 a moose come straight to the place on the following 

 morning from a distance of nearly two miles. The most 

 favourable time for calling is a still frosty evening in 

 fact, a bad scenting evening ; anything but " a southerly 

 wind and a cloudy sky." Many a moose I have lost from 

 his having crossed my tracks on his approach. For this 

 reason, when practicable, it is best to call from a canoe, 

 paddled up to, and concealed in, a little island or point on 

 a lake or river. Sitting in a spot like this for the greater 

 part of a night is sometimes a severe tax on the sports- 

 man's patience repeating his call at intervals of a quarter 

 of an hour or so, and getting no response but the more 

 dismal echo of his dismal call repeated here and there 

 through the woods. But, on the other hand, I know of 

 nothing more exciting than to hear a moose slowly 

 approaching through the woods: one is sometimes kept 

 on the tiptoe of expectation for half an hour or even 

 longer. The stillness after sunset is so profound, that his 

 slightest movement is distinctly audible. The sportsman 

 hardly dares to breathe ; and when at last the animal 

 comes out on the lake or opening within range it is a 

 grand moment, if happily he has not delayed his coming 

 till too late to be seen. Moose walk at the rate of about 

 four miles an hour, even in woods so thick that it is hard 

 to understand how they get their horns through. They 

 carry their heads high, noses well up, and horns thrown 

 back on their withers. When disturbed they move in a 

 long shambling trot, clearing every obstruction in their 

 stride ; they never jump or gallop. 



The Nova Scotian Indians are the best moose callers in 



