YARDING 263 



more destructive. Even the wolf attacking the moose 

 stands a poor chance against such defensive armour. 

 After the mating season the bulls go off by them- 

 selves, and leave the cows in sole charge of their off- 

 spring. The latter seem to be in excellent hands, as 

 no wild animal will long brave the mother's anger. 

 The only enemy that they hesitate to attack is man. 

 Their protective instincts stand the young in good 

 stead at such a juncture. Like the deer, they lie 

 perfectly still, and their colour is difficult to detect 

 amongst the rocks and flora of the forest. 



Canadian hunters and guides vouch for the truth 

 of the habit of moose " yarding." It seems to be a 

 kind of social function in which a herd tramps round 

 and round a circle in such regularity as to be a 

 crude dance. The Indians call it a " voodoo." The 

 singular habit seems to have no meaning apart from 

 the gregarious instinct taking an unusual form. 



There are lonely bulls and solitary cows, which 

 isolate themselves in a hermit fashion. Usually the 

 bulls are old and the cows barren. Hermaphrodite 

 cases have also been discovered. 



In British Columbia, moose are found in greatest 

 abundance. The environment of mountain and 

 forest, so suited to their habits, is common there. 

 A canoe trip on the Fraser River touches Bear Lake 

 district, near Fort George, where they are numerous. 

 Proceeding from Petersborough, on the coast, via 

 the Stikine River through Telegraph Creek, is another 



