MOOSE. 55 



paths. Of course, this process is kept up every day, so that when 

 the snow becomes very deep they have well-beaten roads running 

 in every direction over quite a large territory. They have a very 

 delicate way of eating, nibbling only a little at a time. It some- 

 times happens ere the snow lies very deep on the ground that they 

 change and form new yards. They never venture far, however, 

 after the first snow falls, in search of new browsing pastures, and 

 the change is never made unless there be a necessity for it in the 

 scarcity of food and imperfect shelter. The Moose cannot be 

 strictly called a migratory animal, since it never leaves its native 

 ground and forests for strange lands and woods. True, they are 

 obliged to visit and live in the different neighborhoods of their own 

 wilds in order that they may obtain sufficient food, but this can 

 hardly be called migration. The Moose is easily tamed, and can 

 be broken to the harness without much difficulty. There was one 

 some years ago, owned by an old man in Nova Scotia, which he 

 drove to town and drew wood with. The author of " Camp Life " 

 tells us of riding several miles in Maine after one of these animals. 

 From Pennant we learn that they were formerly used in Sweden 

 to draw sledges, but the escape of criminals being often facilitated 

 by their speed, their use for this purpose was prohibited under 

 heavy penalties. 



The Moose is hunted in a variety of ways, but whatever be the 

 method employed, great care and skill must be exercised to cap- 

 ture it. Calling, stalking, hounding and running down on snow 

 shoes are the most common means by which it is captured. The 

 first of these methods is employed on moonlight nights and only 

 during the rutting season ; and consists in luring the bull to the 

 spot where the hunter is concealed by imitating the call of the cow. 

 The Indian guides of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, if not the 

 only men that can imitate this cry, are at all events by far the most 

 successful callers, and when this description of hunting is to be 

 engaged in the services of one or more of these men are essential 

 requisites to success. The " call " which they use to produce the 

 deceptive sound is a trumpet of birch bark about eighteen inches 

 long — the small end an inch in diameter and the large end about 

 four or five. With this simple instrument, long practice enables 

 a good hunter to imitate the lowing of the cow moose so perfectly 



