WILD ANIMALS AND MEN 229 



down and had a smoke, so as not to further disturb the wounded 

 animal before it had time to bleed to death. Besides, a mere 

 glance at the trail would tell me whether or not I had mortally 

 wounded the moose whether the brute was hit high or low, and 

 whether the blood was dark or light. If hit high, the blood 

 would be upon the branches as well as upon the snow; if the 

 blood was black it would mean that an artery had been severed 

 and that the moose was mortally wounded. If the latter had 

 happened, then would be the time for me to get out my pipe 

 and have a smoke." 



SKINNING ANIMALS 



As we were to be busy for the rest of the day, we made a 

 suitable camp and started a fire and by that tune the moose 

 had stiffened enough for proper handling while removing the 

 skin. As usual the hunter's first act was to cut the eyes, then 

 to cut off the head, which he at once skinned and, removing the 

 tongue, hung the head beside the fire to cook while we went on 

 with our work. 



But while we propped up the moose and got it into good 

 position, three whiskey jacks (Canada Jays) came, as they 

 always seem to come at the first sign of smoke, to pay us a 

 visit and partake of the feast. They are fluffy, heavily feath- 

 ered little birds of gray, with wings and tail of darker hue, 

 and with a white spot on their forehead. They are not un- 

 like the blue jay in their calls and shrieks, though they have 

 some notes of their own that are of a quieter, softer tone. They 

 are friendly little beggars that will at times come so near that 

 they may occasionally be caught in one's hand; but while 

 one likes to have them about for the sake of their companion- 

 ship, they will, uninvited, take a share of anything that is good 

 to eat. They are the most familiar birds to be seen in the 

 winter forest, and they have a remarkable way of laying their 



