Dimensions of the Horns of the Moose. 89 



roam ; besides, as I had cause to suspect, they choose secluded 

 spots for the express purpose. However, this important fact 

 is noteworthy with reference to the finding of horns of extinct 

 species in marshes. Moreover it is well known that the moose is 

 in the habit of hastening the shedding of the antler by rubbing 

 it against the stems of alder bushes in swamps, where Indians 

 say more moose horns are found than in the forest. It seems 

 that the time of shedding the horn is somewhat irregular in 

 various regions, being rather earlier in Nova Scotia than in New 

 Brunswick. A good many, however, are cast before the ice has 

 covered the lakes. In the case of the moose, not unfrequently 

 young males carry them until the end of December, whilst 

 the female and young reindeer also frequently retain theirs 

 until March. I have heard almost fabulous descriptions of the 

 size and weight of certain heads of moose,* and the Indians, 

 as we have seen, hold a tradition that the animal was once 

 double its present size. Has this any reference to the great 

 extinct stag just referred to ? I was assured, moreover, by a 

 gentleman conversant with forest life, and an experienced 

 hunter, that an Indian informed him of having killed a female 

 moose with small horns, and considering that such anomalies 

 are not rare in other members of the family, the females of 

 which are hornless, it is possible the instance in question may 

 be correctly stated, thus furnishing an example of the male 

 weapon of defence being transmitted to the opposite sex, 

 which in the caribou is a rule, whilst in the female Wapiti 

 there are often bony protuberances in place of the horn. 



The development of the reindeer's horns is moreover remark - 



* A magnificent specimen was presented to the Prince of Wales during 

 his visit to Canada, the weight of the dried skull and horns being fifty-six 

 pounds ; the extreme breadth across the antlers seventy inches. Another 

 large specimen, in the possession of Mr. Boardman, weighs fifty pounds, 

 and has nineteen points, with a span of sixty inches, the palm antler 

 being thirteen inches broad. This gentleman has also a splendid example 

 of the caribou's head, the horns of which have thirty-five snogs. The 

 two latter specimens were procured in New Brunswick forests. 



