In THE VELVET. 123 

bing them up and down the small trees. In this manner also, 
they clean off the remaining old velvet. For this purpose they 
choose very small trees, from one to two inches through. 
These trees are frequently seen along the sides of the ridges, 
polished up, stripped of branches and bark, up to where it is 
too small to be of use to them, while beneath, lying loosely 
about, and close to the body of the tree where it had fallen, a 
little pile of the old velvet usually may be seen. At times 
we see a larger tree used for the same purpose. One in. par- 

ticular we remember of seeing quite lately —an ash with very 
rough bark, some four inches through, cleaned off higher up 
than usual, while beneath lay upon the ground quite a hand- 
full of the velvet. This we concluded to be a moose, though 
possibly it might have been Jumbo, the wary buck caribou 
we had seen at times (for a moment only). Again, with 
regard to their rubbing their horns and polishing them against 
the trees. It is said that at times you can call them handy to 
you by imitating these sounds. This can be done in the fall 
after they have rubbed off the velvet and the antlers are most 
fully hardened. The buck at this time is in fine condition, 
travelling with high head about the ridges anxious for a fight 
with the first one of his like that dare invade his chosen 
stamping grounds. Catching a sight of his rival through the 
trees, or imagining he might be coming up over the ridge, he 
approaches a small tree in that direction, and with head down, 
claws up the leaves and earth, throwing it far out behind him, 
often stopping for a moment to cast an angry glance from his 
blazing eye up the ridge, stamping the ground; and again 
often noisily striking his horns with glancing blows against 
the tree and its branches, making a noisy circus at this, his 
bravest time of the year, when usually he is timid, roaming 
