THE MOOSE 261 



magnificent species is almost ubiquitous. In the 

 waste and uninhabited parts of most of the provinces 

 it is to be found. I came across it in the French 

 River district. During the hot weather they wallow 

 in the lakes, and a short portage from the river 

 brings one upon them. They make their home in 

 the northern interior, and in the Far West, and their 

 nomadic habits take them to territories where they 

 have not been seen before and drive them from others 

 where they were once plentiful. 



In summer, keeping near the high mountain 

 ranges, moose go in search of plants and shrubs for 

 food, and will even risk their necks like an enthusi- 

 astic botanist in search of a succulent species. They 

 are the largest of the deer order, and are given the 

 alternate name of the flat-horned elk. The moose 

 stands six feet high, measuring from the forefeet to 

 the shoulders, and is nine feet long. The head is 

 narrow, surmounted with big coarse ears ten inches 

 long, which are relieved by the low-spreading antlers. 

 His short neck gives him an apoplectic appearance. 

 The forelegs are longer than the hind, which perches 

 him up in front. Long hair hangs round the neck, 

 and the colours vary at different seasons, between 

 black, brown, and yellow, winter investing him with 

 the lighter coat. The eyes look smaller than they 

 are in reality by being deep-set in the head. 



The antlers, of which the bull has the monopoly, 

 are the chief feature. They begin to show at two 



