MAMMALS. 287 



These skins were very noticeably larger (by about oue-tbird) than the skins of the deer taken 

 on the coast, and agreed in being uniformly much darker than skins of the barren-gTOuiid reindeer. 

 This form undoubtedly largely, if not entirely, replaces the barren-ground reindeer in the wooded 

 country about the head of the Yukon, and perhaps on the extreme upper part of the Kuskoquiui. 

 I could learn nothing of its habits, except that it frequents the wooded country, like the moose. 

 This is the form found on the wooded Pacific slope about Keual Peninsula, according to Petrofl'. 



Alces amerioanus Jardine. Moose (Esk. Tun-tu uk). 



Biographical notes. — Being pre-eminently a woodland species, this fine animal is unknown upon 

 any of the Aleutian or Bering Sea Islands, and the Yukon mouth is the only point where it ever 

 approaches the shore of Bering Sea. It is unknown near the Arctic coast, but may occur on the 

 Pacific slope of the Alaskan Mountains, in the Cook's Inlet and Copper River district. ISTortli of 

 the Alaskan range of mountains, which closely follows the Pacific shore line, the Moose is a well- 

 known animal throughout the interior wherever the spruce and white birch forests occur. They 

 range to the tree limit ui latitude 69° and from Bering Sea at the Yukon mouth to the British 

 boundary line. They are more common along the large water-courses, where the heaviest forests 

 are found, than elsewhere, and they are most numerous about the headwaters of the Yukon and 

 Kuskoquim Eivers. They lead a roaming life, and where they may be numerous one season none 

 are found the next. 



The fur traders and Indians claim that the Moose has been found west of Fort Yukon only 

 within the last twenty-five or thirty years, and that only within the last ten years have they been 

 killed below Anvik and Mission, on the Lower Y'ukon. 



A few years ago a single Moose was shot iu the Yukon delta close to the sea, which is the 

 only record 1 have of its occnrreuce so far to the west. During the winters of 1879, ISSO, and 1881 

 moose were numerous from Paimut to ^Mission, on the Lower Yukon, and the Eskimo living there 

 killed a number of them, although they afterwards were in fear of the Indians living higher up 

 the river. They dreaded the vengeance of the Indians, as the Moose is considered as belonging 

 to their territory. It is possible that the claims of the natives are true, and that the Moose has 

 extended its range to the northwest within the last few decades, since the southeastern part of 

 its range has become more and more restricted. This animal also occurs iu Eastern Siberia, but 

 does not reach the vicinity of the straits, owing to the lack of forests there. 



During the summer months the Moose is rarely hunted in the forest, but is occasionally killed 

 on the banks of the larger streams or while swimming across them. In winter they wander about 

 from place to place, eating the tender twigs from the cottouwoods, white birches, and willows, 

 until the increasing depth of snow forces them to unite iu small herds of varying size on the best 

 feeding-ground, and thus make a "yard," where they may be easily stalked. They rarely unite 

 in this manner until 3 or i feet of snow has fallen. During some seasons they never "yard" 

 at all, and when spring approaches or a very heavy snowfall occurs they are at the mercy of the 

 hunter who strikes their trail. In spring the warm days settle the top of the snow, and a cold 

 spell following forms a heavy crust on the snow — strong enough to bear a man, but through which 

 the moose breaks at every step. Under such circumstances the hunters easily run the huge 

 animal down and spear or shoot it. 



After a very heavy snowfall the hunters go out on snow-shoes in search of their trails. When 

 one is found the swiftest runner, stripjjpd to a light hunting shirt and breeches, and carrying a 

 light shot-gun loaded with ball, starts oft' on the track, while the women and slower runners follow. 

 The Moose sometimes runs 8 or 10 miles before it can be brought to bay and shot. The hunter 

 then turns back and returns to camp at a good round pace to avoid freezing in the intense cold. 

 The followers cut up and drag the carcass into cami) on sledges. 



Small dogs — stunted examples of the Eskimo breed — are often used in this style of hunting if 

 there is a light crust on the snow. In autumn the hunt is managed in a difi'erent manner. The 

 hunter tries to stalk his game in the dense spruce thickets; but the Moose is very wary and usu- 

 ally takes alarm and starts oft' at a swift trot, his hoofs making a great clatter before he is seen. 

 The hunter, knowing the country, at once runs across to the furtlier sitle of the basin or valley 



