MOOSE. 53 



years, and afterwards two at a birth. Very old cows become bar- 

 ren. With the mother the summer is a season of retirement. 

 She goes alone to the wildest unfrequented, moss-covered swamps 

 of the forest, and never leaves them until the month of September, 

 when she comes forth to select a companion. No doubt but that 

 she withdraws to these deep recesses near lakes to protect her 

 young from carnivorous animals, and the bull moose. The calves 

 continue to follow the mother long after she ceases to feed them. 

 It is probable that in many cases they keep with her until they are 

 two or three years old. 



The Moose is much annoyed during the warm weather by the 

 attacks of flies and mosquitoes, and at this season they remain in 

 the vicinity of lakes, feeding on aquatic plants, standing much of 

 the time in water, where they will remain for hours immersed with 

 nothing but their noses above the surface. Here they feed upon 

 the roots, stalks, and leaves of the yellow lily. Their habit of 

 reaching under water, so as to feed on the roots of these plants, 

 gave rise to the Indian belief that the moose possessed the power 

 of remaining under water the whole day. That they entirely dis- 

 appear from view when thus feeding is well established, but that they 

 can live under water for any length of time is only credited by In- 

 dians. They are strong and rapid swimmers, and have been 

 known to cross a distance of two miles from one shore to 

 another. 



The Moose on the ist of September, the beginning of the rut- 

 ting season, commence to " travel up," as the Indians term it, and 

 in a few days work out of the bogs and marshes and appear on the 

 higher lands of the forest. During this period — September and 

 October— the bull moose drinks and feeds but little for days at a 

 time. He stalks the forest a proud, haughty, defiant monarch, con- 

 scious of his strength and beauty, with horns stripped of the last 

 ribbon of deciduous skin, and polished by constant rubbing against 

 the hacmatack, and with immense round powerful neck, and in the 

 finest bodily vigor and condition. He goes forth to assert his de- 

 mands among his rivals. He is no longer timorous and shy, but 

 bold, defiant, and dangerous. His weapons are h's horns and 

 hoofs, and few animals can use the latter to better advantage. At 

 this time he loses in a measure his fear of man and if only 



