THE MOOSE. 59 



everything is changed, the herd is off in a moment, 

 madly rushing onwards, heedless of every obstruction, 

 and bearing all before it. It is singular that the mere 

 sound of firing does not appear to alarm other Moose 

 in the neighbourhood ; though the sight of a flying 

 animal will scare away every herd in its course, and the 

 forest will be deserted for days after. 



In spring and summer, the Moose frequents the 

 swamps and lagoons in search of rushes and aquatic 

 plants, and in the hot weather stands, sometimes for a very 

 long time together, immersed up to the neck in the cool 

 lakes in order to escape the flies, or to browse on the 

 broad lotus leaves floating on the surface, as well as on 

 their stalks, which it procures by immersing its head 

 under water. At such times they are much more easily 

 approached either in a canoe, or from the thickly 

 wooded bank than when in the forest ; though the 

 more common method is for the hunter to take up his 

 position before daylight within shot of the place which 

 he has previously discovered by the trail is a favourite 

 resort. Here he lies in ambush as quietly as he can, 

 seeing he is probably half devoured by musquitoes, till 

 about mid-day, when the cracking of dry branches and 

 the rustle of dead leaves warn him of the approach of 

 the antlered monarch, which presently emerges from the 

 shade, and after looking cautiously round, wades into the 



