52 CERVID^E. 



the hunter, accompanied by an Indian or Canadian, 

 skilled, not only in woodcraft, but in the imitation of 

 the call or bellow of the Cow-moose, repairs to the forest 

 or swamp in which the animals are known to be feeding. 

 The instrument by which the " call " is produced is a 

 cone or trumpet of bark, generally that of the birch, 

 about a foot and a half in length. With this the native 

 mounts a tree, in order to enable the sound to travel 

 further; the shooter below concealing himself either 

 among the chance bushes, or, if necessary, behind an 

 artificial screen of lopped boughs or sapins. 



After the startling sound of the call has echoed away 

 through the dusky forest, the ordinary deathlike silence 

 again ensues, till the answer of the bull is faintly heard 

 in the distance, for the range to which the call reaches 

 on a still night is almost incredible. 



When necessary to guide or encourage the advance 

 of the approaching Moose, the call is repeated ; but he 

 generally makes straight to the point with wonderful 

 accuracy, even from a distance of a mile or more. 



The caller at this juncture, descending to the ground, 

 retires, with a reserve gun, to the rear of the sportsman, 

 and, motionless as the dark trunks around, they await 

 the appearance of their prey. However cramped or con- 

 strained their attitude, they must not move a finger, for 

 the suspicious animal invariably approaches up-wind if 



