THE lIAblTS UF MOUSE. 3G 1 



without causing uneasiness ; ainl four times we came as near as 

 thirty feet in plain sight and took a dozen or more photographs. 

 I even changed my roll of films. 



The most singular experience occurred on the 2nd of October, 

 1909. It was about half -past four o'clock in the afternoon ; the sun 

 was low, and we were looking for a place to camp. All at once 

 we heard the throaty grunt of a bull moose. Paddling quietly into 

 a shady bay, what was our surprise to see a little yearling cow 

 run out fi'oni the birch trees and come towards us whinnying ! 

 The next moment there was a loud crashing, and a tall heavy 

 two-year-old bull broke through the trees with a rush. I took a 

 photograph at once, for I thought they Avould turn and flee. 

 Instead, as we drifted nearer and nearer, the little cow walked 

 out toward us along the edge of the shore as if for protection. 

 The bull, seeing us, checked his pace and waded stifi'-legged into 

 the water as high as his knees. In evident fear of him, the little 

 cow kept wliiningand edging ofi", while he, advancing within fifteen 

 feet of us, lowered his head, turned broadside with one eye on the 

 cow, and sniffed at us suspiciously like a dog. The cow, as if 

 satisfied with her temporaiy immunity, now began to feed. The 

 bull made no attempt either to leave or to attack us. It was only 

 at last when I spoke, after thirteen pictures, that they took 

 fright ; and then the cow, instead of running away with the bull, 

 entered the water behind us and swam across to the other side. 



The young moose, as a rule, seem to be less cautious than the 

 old. On the 11th of June, 1910, we paddled up the river to the 

 same bend, where the day before we had seen ten moose. This 

 day there were seven, and one by one they walked slowly a,wf\y 

 into the woods, all except a little fellow that I mistook at first for 

 a cow. When we glided nearer, I saw two round knobs of horns 

 just peeping out of the forehead between his eyes and ears. 

 They were his first antlers. As we approached, he fidgeted a 

 little and looked at us with a mild sort of curiosity. Then down 

 went his head — but only halfway, for the tips of the ears still 

 protruded. Presently, completely reassured, he disappeared under 

 water. He was down on his knees. When he rose, he shook his 

 head till the long ears flapped against his cheeks. Then, whining 

 softly and stretching his neck forward, he took a step toward us. 

 I could almost have touched him with my hand ; but Billy, always 

 cautious, began to paddle backwards. Several times the little 

 fellow tried again to approach us — for exactly what puipose 

 I have never known. He seemed to be entirely friendly. At 

 last I spoke, and Siwuy he went. 



There is a theory among some sportsmen who have only shot 

 moose that drooped ears are a sure indication of a wound. On 

 the contrary, the moose lowers his ears for as many reasons as any 

 other animal. Perhaps it is safe to infer that a moose with ears 

 always drooped is injured ; but the pictures of the friendly little 

 bull show him with ears one moment erect, the next drooped, and 

 again out straight. Sometimes they are lowered on account of 



