MOOSE DEER. 105 



barrel, and, but for a vigorous effort, I should have 

 fallen from my perch. 



I had better draw a veil over the recriminations that 

 ensued, for homicide was nearly the result, whether 

 justifiable or not must be for others to decide ; but 

 St. Francis was not long honoured with my presence. 

 Of moose hunting I had seen enough for one season, 

 and for many a year not even my bosom friends knew 

 that I had ever made an attempt on such a large class 

 of game. 



In the close, warm weather of July and August this 

 game is much pestered with flies. To avoid these 

 plagues, the moose almost becomes aquatic in his 

 habits ; for hours he will completely submerge himself, 

 with nought but his head above the surface. At this 

 season their principal food is the long, succulent limbs 

 and leaves of the water lily. In the tributary streams 

 that help to feed Moosehead Lake it is no uncommon 

 thing for the fisherman or tourist, on his aquatic 

 excursions, to come across moose floating, or see them 

 reach the shore in advance of him, as the wary animals 

 have been alarmed, either by voices or the wind. 

 Such was my fortune once when fishing in a tributary 

 of Lake Parmacheney. Trout had all day been on the 

 feed ; my gun lay carelessly at my feet, half buried in 

 blankets and other hunter's paraphernalia, in the 



