108 HOOFED ANIMALS 



expense to the Government in the form of annual maintenance 

 for starving natives. 



Through the initiative and efforts of Dr. Grenfell, the 

 Reindeer has been successfully introduced in Labrador, for 

 the benefit of the native population. 



The Moose 1 is the largest animal of the Deer Family, 

 living or extinct. Even the Irish elk, with antlers which, in 

 at least one specimen, spread 9 feet 2 inches, was a smaller 

 animal. It is a satisfaction to know that the most colossal 

 deer that ever trod the earth is alive to-day, and an inhabitant 

 of our continent. 



It is not, however, an easy matter to convey a truthful 

 and adequate impression of this antlered giant of the north. 

 The young specimens occasionally seen for brief seasons in 

 zoological parks and gardens are scarcely more than sugges- 

 tions of the adult animal. The mounted groups in our large 

 museums do indeed represent its full size; but to be fully 

 appreciated the Moose must be seen alive, adult, full of 

 strength and purpose, striding like a four-legged colossus 

 through the evergreen forests of Canada or Alaska, or swing- 

 ing away at incredible speed from the dangers of the chase. 



Imagine, if you can, an antlered animal standing between 

 six and seven feet high at the shoulders, its legs quite four 

 feet long, its neck and body covered with a heavy thatch of 

 coarse, purplish-gray hair from three to six inches long and its 

 huge head crowned with massive antlers spreading from five 

 to six feet in width. Its head is among the lower branches 



1 Al'ces americanus. Called in Europe, the "Elk"; and our Elk is there 

 called the "Wap'i-ti." See Frontispiece. 



