■MOOSE OR ELK. 345 



and Sweden ; besides these, it is found in Siberia, and 

 its range is said to extend as far as North China. 

 Eecently a Moose has been shot in GaHcia, which had 

 probably, wandered from a more northern district. 



The American and European varieties, which pre- 

 viously were classed as two species, are now described 

 as one. 



The Moose is about 5 to 6 feet in height. Its length 

 of leg and shortness of body render its appearance very 

 striking. The general colour is dark brown ; and it is 

 lighter on the belly. The head is large and massive in 

 appearance. The nose is also large, thick, and project- 

 ing. The eyes are large and expressive. The ears are 

 rather long, and brown. There is a small mane of 

 dark brown hair, more or less developed, and there is 

 also a beard under the chin of the male animals. The 

 neck is thick and short, rendering it incapable of grazing, 

 but it reaches with ease the twigs and brushwood on 

 which it feeds. The hoofs are large and broad. In 

 spite of these peculiar dimensions, the Moose cannot be 

 said to be ugly. 



The horns of the male Elk are very handsome ; they 

 are large, solid, and palmated, with one or two separate 

 tines on the brow. Those of the American Moose are 

 larger and finer than those of the European, although 

 neither can compare with the horns of the extinct Irish 

 Elk, some of which have 8 feet expanse of antlers. 



The Moose generally produces one at a birth, and 

 twins are a rarity. The young are easily tamed. A 

 pair of female Elks were driven in a sledge at the 

 Montreal Winter Carnival. According to the Field, the 

 Moose does not attain to maturity until nearly nine years 

 of age. In the rutting season, the males fight almost 

 as savagely as Wapiti ; and, like most Deer, the horns 



