136 The North American Cervidce. 



The Moose (Alee Americana, Jard.). 



The moose is by far the largest of the Cervidce, and considerably 

 exceeds a horse in height, often measuring six feet or more at the 

 withers. This great height is, in a measure, due to the extreme 

 length of the legs ; but the long mane-like hairs of the neck, which 

 are naturally slightly raised, also tend to make the animal appear 

 taller than it really is. When the moose is at his best, — that is, in 

 the autumn, — he is black, with tan legs and muzzle, and grayish belly 

 and flanks, but later in the season the coat fades to a dark grizzled 

 gray. The tips of the hairs are black, becoming pale gray about 

 half-way toward the roots, and then changing to dull white. The 

 young, when first born, are bright bay, sometimes with faint indica- 

 tions of spots on the sides. These markings are soon lost, however, 

 and by September the color of the body is brownish gray, the head 

 and legs being reddish. 



The horns of the moose are broadly palmate, being sometimes 

 sixteen inches across their widest part, and their spread is often five 

 feet or more. The yearling bull has only a short spike ; the horns 

 of a two-year-old, now before me, are ten inches long, and a brow 

 antler four inches in length springs from the beam six inches above 

 the burr. The third year a small palm is developed, and for several 

 seasons thereafter the horns increase in size. The head of this 

 species is a marvel of ugliness, the great rounded nose, or motiffle, 

 and the overhanging square-cut upper lip making it appear inde- 

 scribably heavy and coarse. The neck is very short, and this fact, 

 in connection with the very long legs, renders it difficult, if not 

 impossible, for the moose to graze on level ground. The young are 

 brought forth in May, and are usually two in number. A calf moose 

 is a most grotesque and, at the same time, a most interesting little 

 animal. Years ago, in the valley of the Upper Yellowstone, a tame 

 one, which had been captured by the sons of a settler there, came 

 under my notice. Late in the month of August it was as large as a 

 good- sized calf, and was strong and fat. It was quite as much at 

 home about the ranche as one of the dogs, and manifested not the 

 slightest fear. The greater part of its time was spent among the 

 willow brush down by the river-bank ; but at the whistle, if it hap- 



