250 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



lily. In searching for them, the water ought to be care- 

 fully scanned, as they are often almost wholly immersed in 

 it, the only part appearing above the surface being the nose, 

 eyes, ears, and the antlers, the latter looking like snags at a 

 distance. In the winter, when the ground is covered with 

 snow, herds of females, calves, and young bulls are found 

 together in "yards;" but the old males like to wander 

 about by themselves, or to form small bachelor parties. 



A moose -yard is simply a feeding -ground, the paths 

 through the snow being formed unconsciously by the ani- 

 mals while browsing. It is generally found where decidu- 

 ous trees are numerous, as the animals like to nibble at 

 these in the daintiest manner. After the first heavy fall of 

 snow they seldom change their ground ; but if the fall is 

 light they frequently do so, and three yards may sometimes 

 be found within five miles of each other, especially if young 

 trees are numerous, and the herds are large. When the 

 young trees have been plucked of their shoots as high as 

 the moose can reach, they ride them down with their long 

 forelegs, and straddle them until all the tender portions 

 have been eaten off. 



When startled by hounds or hunters, the bulls throw the 

 antlers as far back as their straight, short necks will permit 

 them, and, with noses in air, dash through dense forests and 

 matted thickets with great ease, while their limbs are so 

 long that they can step over fallen trees without breaking 

 their gait. They are by no means so handsome in looks 

 or graceful in motion as their kindred, the wapiti ; and 

 their fore-shoulders, which are higher than the haunches, 

 and their ridge-like withers give them a most ungainly as- 

 pect. When running, they make a clattering sound with the 

 horny points or spurs of the hoofs, and so distinct a slot or 

 track that it may be readily noticed even on dry grass, as 

 the hoofs are long and sharp -pointed, and the fore are 

 shorter and less tapering than the hinder onos. This form 

 of hoof prevents them from running well through deep, 

 crusted snow, and the result is that they are readily capt- 

 ured, for they break through it easily; whereas their cousin, 



