UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 305 



into the bosom, sleeve, or pocket of any one who will grant it that 

 indulgence. 



Squirrels when fat are good eating : their flesh is more juicy than 

 that of the Rabbit, and in every respect it is preferable. 



Moose. This celebrated animal has been described by the Euro- 

 pean naturalists, under the names of Moose and Elk, from its resem- 

 blance to the Elk of the old world. It is even said that it is the same 

 species. Hence, many have supposed that the American animals 

 called Moose and Elk have been confounded, which on due inquiry 

 will be found to be otherwise, except in a few instances, wherein the 

 name has created some confusion in the location of the subject of this 

 article. The Deer known in America by the name of Elk, is very 

 improperly designated, it having no resemblance to that animal. 



The Moose has horns with short beams, spreading into a broad 

 palm, furnished on the outward side with sharp snags, the inner side 

 plain, no brow antlers ; it has small eyes ; long slouching asinine ears; 

 large nostrils ; the upper lip is square, great, and hanging far over 

 the lower, and has a deep furrow in the middle, so as to appear almost 

 bifid ; under the throat there is a small excrescence, with a long tuft 

 of coarse black hair pendant from it ; the neck is shorter than the 

 head ; along the top there is an upright, short, thick mane of a light 

 brown colour; withers elevated; tail short; the legs are long, and 

 those behind are the shorter; hoofs much cloven. The colour of the 

 body is of a hoary brown ; tail dusky above, white beneath. The vast 

 size of the head, the shortness of the neck, and the length of the ears, 

 give the beast a deformed and stupid look. 



The greatest height of this animal, which Mr. Pennant had heard 

 of, is seventeen hands ; the greatest weight twelve hundred and twenty 

 nine pounds. The largest horns which he had seen, are in the house 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company: they weigh fifty-six pounds; their 

 length is thirty -two inches, breadth of one of the palms thirteen inches 

 and a half, space between point and point thirty-four. The female is 

 less than the male, and wants horns. 



The Moose inhabits the isle of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the west- 

 ern side of the Bay of Fundy, and the northern parts of Canada. In 

 the territory of the United States, it is found at the head waters of 

 the Mississippi ; and some few, it is said, yet frequent the White 

 Mountains of New Hampshire : that range having been formerly ce- 

 lebrated for the residence of these animals. 



The Moose reside amidst forests, for the conveniency of browsing 

 the boughs of trees, because they are prevented from grazing with 

 any kind of ease, by reason of the shortness of their necks, and length 

 of their legs. They have a singular gait: their pace is a shambling 

 trot, but they go with great swiftness. In their common walk they 

 lift their feet very high, and will, without any difficulty, step over a 

 gate five feet high. They feed principally in the night; and when 

 they graze, it is always against an ascent, for the reason above as- 

 signed. They ruminate like the Ox. 



They go to rut in Autumn, and are at that time very furious. They 

 bring, in the month of April, two young at a birth, which follow the 

 dam a whole year. 



They are very inoffensive, except in the rutting season, or except 

 they are wounded, when they will turn on the assailant, and attack 

 him with their horns, or trample him to death beneath their great 

 hoofs. 



