MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 271 



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 velvet in 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. The antlers 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. Upon 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 



