THE MOOSE DEER. 55 
the fortuitous result of circumstances, rather than any 
peculiarities of instinct or sagacity in the animals to 
which they are ascribed. 
These persons contend that the net-work of paths, after 
the manner described above, intersecting and checkering 
whole mountain-sides, are naturally produced by the rov- 
ing perambulations of the great deer; and are not made 
by him, with any design of future facilities in obtaining 
forage, but simply in the course of present search for it. 
Farther, they declare that the yards are not formed, or 
even used, as'‘a temporary winter habitation, from which 
the animals do not wander during the continuance of 
cold weather; but attribute their occurrence merely to 
the unavoidable stamping to and of a family, or a small 
herd, of these noble cervines, over the snowy surface of 
some spot which has casually attracted them by the 
abundance of succulent food offered by its underwood ; 
and that they quit such places, from time to time, in 
their ordinary rambles; and entirely, for another and 
better place, so soon as its supplies are exhausted. This, 
I regard, the truer and more philosophic view. 
These yards are carefully hunted out by the Canadian 
Indians, and the tidings are brought into the garrison 
towns, and received with a perfect burst of enthusiasm 
by the officers of her majesty’s regiments quartered there, 
and having little to relieve the monotony of winter, ex- 
cept curling or tandem-driving, unless when a chance of 
a Moose-hunt raises a gay alarum. 
