THE MOOSE DEER. 55 



the fortuitous result of circumstances, rather than any 

 peculiarities of instinct or sagacity in the animals to' 

 which they are ascribed. 



These persons contend that the net-work of paths, after 

 the manner described above, intersecting and checkering 

 whole mountain-sides, are naturally produced by the rov- 

 ing perambulations of the great deer ; and are not made 

 by him, with any design of future facilities in obtaining 

 forage, but simply in the course of present search for it. 



Farther, they declare that the yards are not formed, or 

 even used, as a temporary winter habitation, from which 

 the animals do not wander during the continuance of 

 cold weather ; but attribute their occurrence merely to 

 the unavoidable stamping to and of a family, or a small 

 herd, of these noble cervines, over the snowy surface of 

 some spot which has casually attracted them by the 

 abundance of succulent food offered by its underwood ; 

 and that they quit such places, from time to time, in 

 their ordinary rambles; and entirely, for another and 

 better place, so soon as its supplies are exhausted. This, 

 I regard, the truer and more philosophic view. 



These yards are carefully hunted out by the Canadian 

 Indians, and the tidings are brought into the garrison 

 towns, and received with a perfect burst of enthusiasm 

 by the officers of her majesty's regiments quartered there, 

 and having little to relieve the monotony of winter, ex- 

 cept curling or tandem-driving, unless when a chance of 

 a Moose-liunt raises a gay alarum. 



