THE MOOSE. 



227 



passed over easily by the Elk, which has been kDo^vn to trot uninter- 

 ruptedly over a number of fallen tree-trunks, some of them five feet in 

 thickness. When the ground is hard and will bear the weight of so 

 large an animal, the hunters are led a very long and severe chase before 

 they come up with their prey; but when the snow lies soft and thick on 

 the ground, the creature soon succumbs to its lighter antagonists, who 

 supply themselves with snow-shoes and scud over the soft snow with a 

 speed that speedily overcomes that of the poor Elk, which sinks floun- 



The Moose or Elk {Afces Makhis). 



dering into the deep snow-drifts at every step, and is soon worn out by 

 its useless efforts. 



It is as wary as any of the Deer tribe, being alarmed by the slightest 

 sound or the faintest scent that gives warning of an enemy. As the 

 Elk trots along its course is marked by a succession of sharp sounds, 

 which are produced by the snapping of the cloven hoofs, which separate 

 at every step, and fall together as the animal raises its foot from the 

 ground. 



The enormous horns form no barrier to his progress through the 

 woods, for when the Elk runs he always throws his horns well back 

 upon his shoulders, so that they rather assist than impede him in tra- 

 versing the forest glades. The Elk is a capital swimmer, proceeding 



