THE MOOSE 



143 



jumble of tines and palmations. Occasionally 

 these odd forms are also found among the moose 

 of Ottawa and New Brunswick. 



But in Alaskan Moose antlers, freaky develop- 

 ment is exceptional, and tht real type is the 

 same as that found on the moose of Nova Scotia, 

 Manitoba and Minnesota. The largest antlers 

 on record up to this date are perfectly regular. 

 Apparently the Alaskan Moose find in summer 

 an abundant supply of some food which is par- 

 ticularly rich in horuTproducing properties, and 

 their enormous and freaky antlers are the result. 



Regarding the size of Alaskan and other moose, 

 it is well to weigh the best available evidence. 



So far as I am informed, the largest moose ever 

 killed and measured by thoroughly experienced 

 and reliable hands is the one already referred to 

 which was shot in New Brunswick by Mr. Carl 

 Rungius, the painter of American animals, whose 

 knowledge of the external anatomy of that ani- 

 mal is, as many believe, second to that of no 

 other man. The accuracy and fairness of Mr. 

 Rungius' measurements of the animals he has so 

 long studied in their wild haunts, is beyond ques- 

 tion. According to Mr. Rungius, the moose re- 

 ferred to above stood precisely 84 inches high at 

 shoulders, and had a girth of 96 inches; but "for 

 so large an animal its antlers were rather small." 



The following measurements of moose, in 

 inches, are of interest in determining the real 

 value of prevailing impressions regarding the 

 Alaskan animal, and its right to-specific rank by 

 reason of its great size : 



became an established industry. The unfort- 

 unate fact that in many portions of southwest- 

 ern Alaska Moose were easily found and killed,, 

 bore heavily against them. The Kenai Penin- 

 sula partook of the character of a moose "pre- 

 serve," in everything save preservation. 



In 1902, through the combined efforts of nat- 

 uralists and sportsmen. Congress enacted a law 

 for the protection of the wild animals of Alaska, 

 very wisely charged the Secretary of Agricult- 

 ure with its enforcement, and vested him with 

 wide discretionary power. It was a great day. 

 for big game, and for all persons interested in 

 the preservation of our grandest wild animals, 

 when the fauna of Alaska came under the pro- 

 tection of Drs. C. Hart Merriam and T. S. 

 Palmer, of the United States Biological Survey, 

 who are specially charged with the enforcement 

 of the Alaska game law.' The killing of moose 

 for salable heads promptly decreased. Ex- 

 cepting by prospectors and natives in great need 

 of food, no moose, white sheep, goat, caribou or 

 big brown bear may be killed in close season 

 without a special license signed by the Secretary 

 of Agriculture ; nor can any skins, heads or antlers 

 of protected game be transported from Alaska 

 without permits. 



The only thing now necessary for the protec- 

 tion of the valuable animals of Alaska is an 

 annual appropriation of 125,000 for the pay of 

 game wardens, and legal expenses, and the plac- 

 ing of the entire salmon industry under the con- 

 trol of the United States Fish Commission. 



Until the enactment of the national law of 

 1902 for the preservation of wild animal life in 

 Alaska, the huge antlers of the moose of Alaska 

 threatened to cause the annihilation of the spe- 

 cies in that territory. "Record heads" and 

 " record antlers " began to be sought for by those 

 who were able to buy them at high prices, and 

 very promptly moose-killing for heads and horns 



' Alces americanus. ' Largest of several very large 



THE PECCARY FAMILY. 



Tayassuidae. 



The wild swine of the world form a group 

 which contains several remarkable forms. 



The wart hog, of Africa, is the ugliest of all 

 land animals, and its head is of such a remark- 

 able form that at first sight it seems like one of 

 male specimens collected on the Kenai Peninsula. 



