50 



CERVID^. 



sharp-edged hoof, to inflict a most severe and often 

 dangerous wound, and are therefore not to be rashly 

 approached when wounded or at bay, though under or- 

 dinary circumstances they are by no means pugnaciously 

 inclined. In fact, their natural disposition, as is the case 

 with many other animals of great size and conscious 

 strength, is rather to avoid combat than court it; and 

 when taken young they may be easily tamed, in which 

 respects they diiFer widely from the caribou. 



The "Cow-moose" seldom exceeds sixteen hands in 

 height, and has no horns; her coat is also redder or 

 more sandy than that of the bull, though in both there 

 is at times a very considerable variation of colour. She 

 lias only one calf at a birth for the first few years, but 

 after that period has generally two. They are of a 

 light brown colour, and are usually born in the spring, 

 at which time the mother retreats to the deepest and 

 thickest parts of the forest, chiefly in order to hide her 

 young from the bulls, which would infallibly destroy 

 them. 



The calves continue to be suckled by the mother for a 

 longer time after their birth than is the case with 

 any other animal that I am acquainted with. They 

 follow her likewise for a period of unusual duration; 

 generally indeed until she has another family to look 

 after. The slow growth of their horns as weapons of 



