238 



HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



ceeded in reaching their homes, they again put up 

 their stakes before the door-way, take off the tempo- 

 rary covering from the roof, and either take them in 

 a living state, or spear them in their habitations. 

 When they inhabit a sheet of water, which is merely 

 kept up by a dam, they are still more readily taken, 

 by letting off the water, and leaving their huts quite 

 dry. The gun is also sometimes, though not very 

 generally, used; and log-traps, baited with poplar 

 sticks, are now and then made use of to commit havoc 

 among them. 



THE MOOSE. 



The Moose or Elk (Oervus Alces) is found in Cali- 

 fornia. This animal is the largest of his genus, being 

 higher at the shoulders than the horse ; its horns 

 weigh sometimes near fifty pounds ; accordingly, to 



