THE MOOSE. 131 



With this organ the moose is able to hold on to the 

 boughs and twigs of tall saplings, and convey them 

 within the grasp of his powerful teeth. This lip, or 

 ' mouffle,' as it is technically called, is the bonne louche 

 most highly relished by the moose-hunter. On the 

 throat may be observed an excrescence from which 

 depends a tuft of coarse hair, which is common to 

 adults both male and female. A hogged mane covers 

 the neck and reaches as far as to the withers, or a little 

 farther. 



" The horns or antlers of the moose constitute per- 

 haps its most striking feature. They are palmated, 

 and from the outward edge rise the tines or points. 

 From tip to tip these huge horns often measure quite 

 four feet, and a skull with antlers will turn the beam 

 at sixty pounds. 



" The female is devoid of antlers. At the age of one 

 year, the young bulls are furnished with two small 

 knobs, scarcely more than an inch in length. At 

 the age of two, these have become elongated to one 

 foot; and in the third year they begin to flatten or 

 palmate. It is not until the bull has attained his 

 seventh year that his head is covered with fully- 

 formed antlers, which then present a truly formidable 

 appearance. From his shortness of neck and his great 

 length of limb, the moose is unable to browse con- 

 veniently upon level ground. But from this physical 

 inability he does not suffer much, as grass or lichens 

 form but a small proportion of his food. The shoots 



(786) 9 



