60 CERVIDiE. 



water, to fall an easy prey to the pot-shot of the patient 

 watcher. 



Even more illegitimate modes of destruction are un- 

 fortunately practised against these unoffending animals. 

 The settlers hunt them at all seasons, with packs 

 of yelping curs of every kind and breed, and though 

 seldom successful in bringing them to bay, the country, 

 after such runs, is entirely forsaken by the Moose for 

 many months, if not altogether. The Indians also, when 

 the snow is thickly crusted, which is generally the case 

 late in the season, are in the habit of driving them into 

 the deep drifts, where, being unable to escape, they are 

 butchered in cold blood ; and a system in vogue with 

 the lumbermen is that of trapping them by means of 

 a springe. This is formed by bending down a strong 

 }-oung ash tree, and laying a running noose of rope on 

 the path they are found to frequent ; by this means the 

 passing animal is caught and hoisted up high in the air, 

 where it struggles till the gradually tightening cord ends 

 its painful throes. 



In winter, the Moose, being, from their great weight, 

 unable to travel without much difficulty in the deep snow, 

 select some sheltered part of the forest, which also affords 

 a good supply of food, and there form Avhat is termed a 

 " yard " or ravage ; not, as a writer on the field sports 

 of North America tells us, "by regularly trampling 



