THE MOOSE. " 49 



inoose-wood and willow, which the giraffe-like formation 

 of his body and limbs enables him to obtain more easily; 

 while water-lilies, which are also a favourite food, he is 

 likewise enabled to procure with facility by wading. 



There is another peculiarity in this useful muzzle, 

 namely, the formation of the nostrils, which are of such 

 extraordinary size that I have heard of the lower end of 

 a quart bottle being introduced into them without the 

 slightest difficulty. The space between them is very 

 broad, and almost entirely covered with close short hair, 

 only a very small patch of bare skin being visible in the 

 centre. The Moose, as is the case with most of the 

 order to which it belongs, has no incisors in the upper 

 jaw. 



Though the fore feet are perfectly straight and well- 

 formed, the hind hoofs, on the contrary, are splayed and 

 awkward, and the horny points, which are very long 

 and loose, strike together at every step with a singular 

 clicking sound. This expansion of the foot is, doubtless, 

 intended to support, to a certain extent, the weight of the 

 animal on the snow-fields in winter, as well as on the 

 vast swamps it loves to frequent in the heat of 

 summer, though, on ordinary ground, it appears to in- 

 crease the naturally somewhat shuffling gait. 



Using their fore feet with great force and wonderful 

 dexterity and quickness, they are enabled, with the heavy 



E 



