58 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



to the records of the past we find that the antlers found 

 in the fens, turbaries, and caverns of our islands are vastly- 

 larger, heavier, and carry a greater number of points on 

 the sur-royals, than do those of the existing Scotch stags. 



Having regard to the fact that hundreds, and in the 

 distant past thousands, of antlers were shed annually, 

 the comparative rarity of these weapons in the haunts 

 of deer excites comment. This is accounted for by the 

 fact that they are greedily eaten by their late owners, 

 apparently, though unconsciously, for the sake of their 

 bone-producing qualities. 



By way of contrast with the Red-deer and Wapiti, we 

 may take the Moose {Alces machlis), which at no time, 

 and nowhere, attains to large herds. This is explained 

 by the relatively restricted food supply which obtains 

 in the haunts of these creatures. For they frequent the 

 margins of streams, feeding largely on willows and birch. 

 From the shortness of their necks, and the great length 

 of their legs, they cannot crop grass and other short 

 herbage, for unless they kneel they cannot reach the 

 ground. Hence it is obvious that though their geographical 

 range may be wide, their numbers are kept rigidly in check. 

 They would be fewer still but for the fact that, unlike other 

 deer, they glean no small amount of food from the water, 

 wading out to feed upon aquatic vegetation. The roots 

 of water-lilies are especially sought for, and to obtain 

 these the animal will often disappear entirely under 

 water. 



As a consequence of the limited food supply the Moose 

 lead solitary lives. On the Eastern side of America, where 

 the winter is severe, a few individuals, generally a family 

 party, will " yard up," or make a fortress for their mutual 

 protection by trampling down the snow over a restricted 



