THE MOOSE. 135 



the forests have been much hunted, few animals are so 

 cautious. The slightest variation from the natural 

 sound will cause the wary beast to disappear ; and even 

 when he has advanced fearlessly he will suddenly 

 seem to be seized with suspicion, and make a detour to 

 catch the wind of the crouching hunter. 



" I have observed that young moose are somewhat 

 later in their season than their elders. Towards the 

 end of October the latter have left the scene, and then 

 the juniors, bulls of two or three seasons, seem to have 

 acquired more caution perhaps from the reflection 

 that they are left to their own resources. They will 

 readily answer the Indian's lure while they are yet at 

 a distance ; but on approaching more nearly they cease 

 their bellowings and sneak cautiously along in the 

 endeavour to catch the wind or get a glimpse of the 

 cow. 



" At these times the least sound betrays the hidden 

 hunter, and the game noiselessly retires. The excess 

 of caution which characterizes the moose during the 

 rest of the year seems to desert him in the fall. The 

 hunter at this season will often hear his mutterings 

 and bellowings as he crashes through the forest, often 

 charging brakes of withered trees, whose branches fly 

 with sharp reports before him. He is now in the 

 proper frame of mind to answer the birch-bark call, 

 and recklessly advance to his destruction. 



" Sometimes moose, especially if numerous, and in a 

 district not much disturbed, have regular beaten paths 



