THE ALCINE DEER OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLDS. 65 



A fciWHwamp-iuuple snplinj^H, withnul bu.sliOH (vilniniiini), 

 and niouiitain-ji.sh, occur at intervals near the (ultre of 

 the swamp, wliere the ground is drier, and oticr a 

 mouthful of l)ro\vse to the moose, who, however, m(>stly 

 frequenting these lo(;alitie8 in the rutting season, sehh)m 

 partake of food. Here, accompanied by his ccmsort, 

 the bull remains, if undisturbed, for wcu'ks together ; 

 and, if a large animal, will claim to be the monarcli of 

 the swamp, crashing with his antlers against the tree 

 stems slundd he hear a distant rival approaching, and 

 making sudden mad rushes through the trees that can 

 be heai-d at a long distance. At frequent intervals the 

 moss is torn up in a large area, and the l)lack mud 

 scooped out by the bidl pawing with the fore-foot- 

 Eound these holes he continually resorts. The strong 

 musky effluvia evolved by them is exceedingly ofi'ensive, 

 and can be perceived at a considerable distance. Thty 

 are examined with much curiosity by the Indian hunter 

 (who is not over particular) to ascertain the time elapsed 

 since the animal was last on the spot. A similar fact is 

 noticed by Mr. Lloyd in the case of the European elk, 

 " g^'^P " lacing the Norse term applied to such cavities 

 found in similar situations in the Scandinavian forest. 



The rutting season commences early in September, the 

 horns of the male being by that time matured and har- 

 dened. An Indian hunter has told me that he has called 

 up a moose in the third week of August, and found the 

 velvet still covering the immature horn ; however, the 

 connexion between the cessation of furtl'er emission of 

 horn matter from the system owing to strangulation of 

 the ducts at the burr of the completed antler, with the 

 advent of the sexual season, is so well established as a 



