THE MOOSE. 53 



practicable, often making a very extended circuit to do 

 so, and is not easily led into ambush. 



Listening for the first response to the call, and still 

 more anxiously for the slightest indication of an ap- 

 proaching animal, is a period of some excitement, but 

 the moment the formidable beast is heard actually 

 advancing nearer and nearer, crashing heavily through 

 the obstructing branches in his onward course, now 

 emitting a dull hollow grunt, now striking his antlers 

 sharply against the trunks of the trees, every nerve is 

 strung to the highest pitch, till the mighty tenant of the 

 forest stands before the concealed hunter, who hardly 

 dares to draw his breath as he steadies his hand for the 

 fatal shot. 



A bull, on approaching the whereabouts of the sup- 

 posed female, will often stand in full view bellowing 

 in tones that ring startlingly through the forest depths, 

 stamping impatiently, and turning his shaggy head, now 

 in one direction now in another, the large ears moving 

 continually backwards and forwards, the mane erect, his 

 enormous antlers glancing in the moonlight, and his 

 breath wreathing in the night air. 



When, as is sometimes the case, two bulls chance to 

 meet at the spot, laying back their ears and gnashing 

 their teeth together, they will rush at each other with 

 the most sudden and appalling fury, roaring, bellowing, 



