304 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



body is short and set on fonr l<in^- legs; tlie front legs 

 being loirger than the back, give it a sort of hump at 

 the shoulders. Tlie winter coat is dark brown above, 

 with thick under-fur of a lighter color, and the hair 

 hangs loose and manelike about the neck ; the summer 

 coat, however, is soft and fine. As to the female, im- 

 agine a very large, long-legged donkey cut out of 

 faded, weather-beaten, brown Canton flannel, and 

 stuffed rather scantily with straw, and you Avill have 

 an idea of Madam Moose ; but her mate finds her 

 beautiful, fights for her, and is very fond of her. 



"This grotesque beast once ranged through all the 

 northern states and territories of this countr}-, from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific, between the frontier states 

 and territories up to the land of the Polar Bear. Now 

 its range has shrunk on every side ; there are a few 

 in the Northeast and others in the big game country 

 from the Yellowstone Park northward. They are 

 vanishing fast, however, and their solitar}- habits and 

 haunts alone lia\'e saved them, for they feed ever in 

 sheltered places, tlieir food being coarse grass and water 

 plants, while in winter they browse on tree buds and 

 even evergreen branches, which their height allows 

 them to reach easily. Moose hide was the Indians' 

 favorite leather for moccasins, and Aloose meat their 

 standby next to Buffalo beef. 



"Next in size to the Moose comes the Elk, or Wapiti 

 as the A\'ise Men sa}'. If the Moose must be compared 

 to a donkey in looks and voice, tlie male Elk has cer- 

 tainly all the grace and poise of a beautiful horse. 

 His head is delicate and shapely, the antlers evenly 

 balanced and carried high, the eyes full and restless, 



