MOOSE-CALLING. 103 



this time, anyhow ; very much we thank you, Grand- 

 mother." 



" It's a pity, Joe," I observed, " that we have not time 

 to see whether our offerings of yesterday are gone or not ; 

 but mind, when you go up the lake again to-morrow to 

 bring out the meat, you don't forget your Grandmother, 

 for I really think she has been most kind to us." 



MOOSE-CALLING. 



Few white hunters have succeeded in obtaining the 

 amount of skill requisite in palming off this strange 

 deceit upon, an animal so cautious and possessing such 

 exquisite senses as the moose. It is a gift of the Indian, 

 whose soft, well modulated voice can imitate the calls of 

 nearly every denizen of the forest. 



As has been stated before, September is the first month 

 for moose-calling, the season lasting for some six weeks. 

 I have seen one brought up as late as the 23rd of 

 October. 



The moose is now in his prime ; the great palmated 

 horns, which have been growing rapidly during the 

 summer, are firm as rock, and the hitherto-protecting 

 covering of velvet-like skin has shrivelled up and dis- 

 appeared by rubbing against stumps and branches, leaving 

 the tines smooth, sharp, and ready for the combat. 



The bracing, frosty air of the autumnal nights makes 

 the moose a great rambler, and in a short time dis- 

 tricts, which before would only give evidence of his 

 presence by an occasional track, now show countless 

 impressions in the swamps, by the sides of lakes, and 



