THE MOOSE. 251 



llie caribou, with its expansive, broad-pointed, and rounded 

 hoof, can travel over it with facility. This fault or defect 

 in the moose is probably one reason why it has not been 

 domesticated in Northern countries, as the reindeer has, 

 although it has many advantages over the latter in size, 

 strength, and speed. 



Its congener in Sweden, the European elk, was formerly 

 employed as a beast of burden, but the State authorities 

 forbade its use after a time, owing to the fact that its su- 

 perior speed frequently enabled criminals to escape. As a 

 forest traveller the moose has no superior and few equals, 

 and its endurance is something extraordinary. Were it 

 domesticated, it would be found an invaluable aid to the 

 farmer, as its support would cost very little, its flesh 

 and hide can be used, and it has apparently the strength 

 of any ordinary horse. It is easily tamed if captured 

 young, and is inclined to be confident* and affectionate if 

 kindly treated ; but during the rutting period the males 

 are liable to be headstrong and pugnacious, if not danger- 

 ous. One generation of domestication might, however, 

 eradicate these qualities, and render it as docile as a cow. 

 It would make a capital steed for mounted scouts or cou- 

 riers in a rough or wooded country ; but I would rather 

 be off its back if any manoeuvres were to be executed, or 

 any firing took place. 



The usual methods of hunting this monarch of the Cer- 

 vidce is to stalk it, "call" it within range during the rut- 

 ting season, run it down on snow-shoes during a heavy fall 

 of snow, or drive it with dogs until it is brought to bay in 

 a snow-bank, or is exhausted. The first two methods are 

 legitimate sport, as they bring out the qualities of the hunt- 

 er; but the last two are merely taking advantage of the 

 animal's inability to travel in deep snow, then assassinat- 

 ing it. 



The Indians of the Far West capture it by means of pit- 

 falls, lying in wait near its haunts and shooting it as it 

 passes them, and by grand drives, in which probably two 

 or three hundred warriors are sometimes engaged. Some 



