FOREST AND STREAM 
118 
met tlie animal on his back track, which made a rush at 
him, he only saving his life by throwing himself on the 
ground, while the animal dashed madly by. Another time, 
while far up the same river, guiding a gentleman from New 
York, when turning a bend in the river, they saw standing 
in the water one of these noble animals. He (the guide) 
called in imitation of the cow; the bull answered, and 
came down until he appeared in sight of the boat, when, 
on discovering the deception, he became terribly enraged, 
striking the water with his feet, making it .fly high in the 
air, and dashing it first one way and then the other with 
his horns, frightening the sportsman in such a manner that 
he failed to shoot him. • * 
In this season no animal could present a nobler appear¬ 
ance. View him as he stands with glossy coat glistening 
in the early sun, with wide-spread antlers upward stretched 
like the hands of some fabled god, and say if you can, that 
there is nothing in him to admire. He at times during this 
period becomes furiously mad, tearing wildly through the 
thickets, pawing the earth with his feet, and making dead 
branches crack like pistol shots. This is when, as the In¬ 
dians say, he is “real mad.” This is in reality the bellow¬ 
ing season. The bull roars, and utters his peculiar, short, 
gutteral sounds, and the cow pours forth a wild, prolonged 
call. The latter goes forth of a still October night, with 
the going down of the sun, to some high banen ridge, sur¬ 
rounded with deep and heavy forests, and ihere she bellows 
forth the wildest of strains until answered by the bull. We 
believe the call may be heard on a still night three miles or 
more. The bellow of the moose is the deepest sounded 
and wildest to be heard in our forests. During this season 
the bulls fight many desperate battles. In these conflicts 
one or both are killed. 
John Logan, the renowned guide of Hova Scotia, told 
me that while trailing late in the fall he came upon the 
remains of two dead moose that had killed each other. 
Their bodies were terribly pierced and bruised, a portion 
of the horn of one was broken off, while the side of the 
other had been pierced by a prong. There they lay, foes 
joined in death. “John,” I asked, as we sat one night 
smoking in front of our camp fire, “did you ever see two 
moose fight?” His e} r e fired as he answered yes. “Well,” 
I replied, “give me the story, I am just in the right mood 
to hear it.” “It was,” said he, striking his pipe against the 
log of our camp, “twenty falls ago. I had just come home 
from sea. My cousin said, ‘John Logan, do you want to go 
over to Yarmouth moose hunting day after to-morrow?’ I 
said yes, no care if I do. We started; my cousin was 
guide and I was gentleman. First night after getting into 
camp I called. Ho answer came. Next night my cousin 
called. Two bull moose answered from opposite ways. 
We heard them coming, talking savagely to each other. 
On they came, making as much noise as if this camp 
was carried right through the woods, striking their horns 
against the bushes and bellowing terribly. We kept per¬ 
fectly still; moon made night very light. How they came 
out of the thick woods into sight. Two great fellows, I tell 
you. They moved right up toward each other until they 
got on top of the ridge in front of me and my cousin. N o 
fight right away; one little ’fraid of other. They commence 
going round and round; come closer and closer each time; 
pretty soon they made right at one another, when they hit. 
Upon Indian’s word, they sound just like that thunder last 
night. What hard fight! Indian never saw two animals fight 
like that before. Soon one got advantage of other and threw 
him. He right up and at it again; when they struck sound 
like a shot gun. Indian could stand it no longer, so he 
took aim on the biggest and pulled. Before he fell the 
other turned him right over backward just as easy as I turn 
that cup. Jumping one side two or three steps he stood 
ready for fight, thinking he had knocked the other down, 
As he stood there, not knowing what had happened, my 
cousin raised his rifle and shot him. You wouldn’t think,” 
he said to me, “how spry and smart such big moose are 
when fighting; jump just like little lambs.” 
I have been assured by more than one moose hunter that 
they have witnessed such scenes as those described by 
John. I can testify that the moose on certain occasions are 
spry and quick of motion. I remember once of having 
made an exceedingly poor shot at a noble moose that stood 
on the edge of a large barren. With the report of my gun 
he made as graceful a bound, and disappeared as rapidly 
from view, as ever did roe or Virginia buck. 
With the close of the rutting season (Hovember 1st) the 
bull moose appears like another animal. He no longer 
trails through the forest bidding defiance to his foes, but 
mopes along with downcast head and dragging limbs, pay¬ 
ing little or no attention to passing events. His coat is now 
rough and dingy, and his antlers seem to serve no purpose 
save as a heavy weight to keep his head bowed down. He 
is cadaverous, gaunt, and exceedingly stupid. Recovering 
not from his fall campaign, he remains poor until the next 
spring, when he again rallies. About the 1st of Hovem¬ 
ber moose begin to look about for winter quarters. These 
are usually selected with reference to the abundance of 
white birch maples (white, striped, swamp), poplar, witch 
hazel, mountain ash, and the different species of firs. From 
most of these trees I have picked specimens on which were 
indications of their browsing. 
While moose are not gregarious, several are often found 
feeding together in what are called moose yards. These 
yards are Simply their feeding grounds, and are made by 
the animals’ constant browsing about the pasture grounds, 
and are not the result of plan or thought. During the time 
of the falling of snow they go around browsing, following 
each other unconsciously making paths. Of course, this 
process is kept up every day, so that when the snow be¬ 
comes very deep they have well beaten roads running in 
every direction over quite a large territory. They have a 
very delicate way of eating, nibbling only a little at a time. 
It sometimes happens ere the snow lies very deep on the 
ground that they change and form new yards. They never 
venture far, however, after the first snow falls, in search of 
new browsing pastures, and the change is never made un¬ 
less there be a necessity for it in the scarcity of food and 
imperfect shelter. I do not think that the moose can be 
strictly called a migratory animal, since they never leave 
their native ground and forests for strange lands and woods. 
True, they are obliged to visit and live in the different 
neighborhoods of their own wilds in order that they may 
obtain sufficient food, but this can hardly be called migra¬ 
tion. The moose is easily tamed, and can be broken to the 
harness without much difficulty. There was one some 
years ago, owned by an old man in Hova Scotia, which he 
drove to town and drew wood with. The author of “Camp 
Life” tells us of riding several miles in Maine after one of 
these animals. From Pennant we learn that they were for¬ 
merly used in Sweden to draw sledges, but the escape of 
criminals being often facilitated by their speed their use 
for this purpose was prohibited under heavy penalties. 
The enemies of the moose are the black bear (Ursus Am- 
ericanus) and the wolf (G. occidentals, variety griseoalbus). 
Wolves are not common to all the districts inhabited by 
these animals, but when found together the wolves hunt 
them in packs, and though one or more may fall before a 
thrust of the horn or blow of the sharp hoof, yet they are 
sure in the end to kill. The cows and their young suffer 
most from the wolf and the bear. The bear seldom ever 
makes an open attack upon the moose, but approaches in a 
stealthy manner, and thus secures his prey without much 
difficulty. I once saw where a bear had made a spring 
from a hiding place upon two bull moose as they passed 
along. It had missed its game, but pursued the two for 
about half a mile, when the trail was abandoned. I have 
never seen the moose give evidence of such speed as in this 
chase. The first few jumps after discovering the bear 
measured twelve feet. When striking into a trot their 
strides were immense. 
The moose is thought to attain to a great age, though 
there is nothing positive as to their length of years when 
wild. It is very doubtful whether the moose will live as 
long in a domesticated state as it would were it to remain 
in the wilds. 
These animals give evidence of possessing exceedingly 
delicate feelings—love, jealousy, and hatred. These are 
expressed in various ways. The following story will illus¬ 
trate their capacity for education and attachment :—“I pro¬ 
cured in India,” says D’Obsonville, “a young elk of ten 
or twelve days old, and had it for about two years without 
ever tying it up. I even let it run abroad, and sometimes 
amused myself with making it draw in the yard or carry 
little burdens. I accustomed it to eat anything; it came 
when called, and I found few signs of impatience, except 
when it was not allowed to remain near me. When I de¬ 
parted for Sumatra, I begged Mr. Law, governor general, 
to accept it. This gentleman had no opportunity of keep¬ 
ing it about his person, as I had done, so he sent it to his 
country house, where it was kept alone, and being confined 
it became so furious as not to be approached, even by the 
person who daily brought it food. After some months’ 
absence I returned. It knew me afar off, and as I observed 
the efforts it made to get at me I ran to meet it, and I con¬ 
fess I can never forget the impressions which the caresses 
and transports of this unhappy animal made upon me. A 
friend of mine who was present at this meeting could not 
forbear to sympathize with me and partake of my feelings.” 
A. B. Lamberton. 
-- 
PREPARATION FOR SPRING FLOWER 
PLANTING—THE HOT BED. 
“Give fools their gold and knaves their power. 
Let fortune’s babbles rise and fall, 
Who sows a field, or 'trains a flower, 
Or plants a tree, is more than all.” 
T this season of the year, when indications of spring 
are daily increasing around us, and the cheerful 
notes of the blue bird and the piping of the robin re¬ 
mind us that the reign of the winter solstice is drawing 
to a close, we would remind our readers—ladies and others 
interested in the planting of garden seeds—that now, 
as soon as the ground is in good order, they can begin to 
plant out their seed with a view to embellish and beautify 
the little garden plat before their city homes. Many of our 
lady friends purchase good seeds and sow them in the hopes 
of a bright and glorious resurrection of flowers a few 
weeks later. They sow, to Lo sure, in hopes, but alas! 
their hopes are in vain. To such we would say, be not dis¬ 
couraged by your first failure. Try again; the best efforts 
sometimes come to naught. The most careful florist, the 
skillful cultivator, will sometimes fail of success. But he 
stands not idling away the spring time, but with cunning 
hand and cultured mind scatters the tiny seeds upon the 
lawn, in the garden, and by the wayside that shall anon 
spring up in all the flashing beauty of a paradise of crim¬ 
son crosses and golden stars, a profusion of vine and ten¬ 
dril, of bud and flower, in a gorgeous multitude to dazzle 
and gratify both eye and taste. 
To all who have the ambition to try, or the taste to desire 
to improve their homes, we would give a few practical sug¬ 
gestions upon the same, which may not be out of place in 
this department of Forest and Stream. 
As many of our lady friends have not perhaps a “hot 
bed” for raising flowers, we would give- them a few direc¬ 
tions for making a cheap and proper frame of sufficient 
capacity to grow a large number of valuable flowers. How 
heat is the first principle needed in the raising of flowers, 
and a hot bed is only the receptacle of a large or small 
quantity of any fermenting material that in its decompo¬ 
sition and chemical action produces heat. This heat, to 
be made available for our purpose, must be raised consid- 
erbaly above the atmosphere in which it is placed. The 
necessary degree of heat for the culture of the different 
kinds of seeds sown in the prepared bed is quite easily 
learned. Of the different substances used in making a hot 
bed, I have always found the best to be a good strawy 
stable manure. This you can readily mix with other ani¬ 
mal or vegetable matter, refuse, and decayed leaves, which 
should always be gathered in the autumn months. This 
basis for hot beds, if possible, should be kept under a shel¬ 
ter of rough boards, if nothing better offers. One good 
cartload will be found amply sufficient for a small hot bed, 
capable of raising a good, generous supply of the different 
kinds of plants wherewith to stock your garden beds and 
border walks. This manure should be broken up finely 
with a fork, and thrown up lightly in a cone-shaped heap, 
where it will soon ferment and become warm enough for 
the .preparation of the receptacle which is to receive it. 
Sometimes when thus treated the heat may become too 
strong, or the temperature hot, and here you are to be very 
careful and watch your operations closely. Remember, 
when making your bed, that too great heat is far less pref¬ 
erable than to await a later period of planting and tlieD 
plant in the open air. The manure heap should be turned 
over with a fork two or three times during two weeks until 
decomposition has become somewhat perfected, and then 
thoroughly broken up into fine fragments, or shaken up. 
When you find it in this stage it is ready to be placed in 
the bed. You will make your bed of any size you deem 
the most convenient, .say five or six frames two feet and six 
inches in width and of proportionate length. Throw out 
your bed to the depth of eighteen inches, and put a frame 
of plank or board inside, having the back side eight or ten 
inches or so above the surface, and -the front side some 
four inches less than the front, or at an inclination of from 
four to eight inches. This frame may be one foot smaller 
than the bed. The fermented preparation is now to be 
thrown in and levelled, and very regularly spread over the 
bottom of the bed, and then varied in successive layers 
until you have raised it to the height you desire. The upper 
surface should be made quite level, and the frame and sash 
set firmly upon it. In about forty-eight hours the retarded 
fermentation will begin again, and c@nsiderable steam will 
be seen under the glass. You will now add finely sifted, 
good garden soil to the depth of four or five inches. How 
your bed is ready to p.ant seeds or plunge pots within the 
frame. 
If your hot bed is made after the above recommendation 
you have little feaj-of making it too hot. Heither should 
you forget that the temperature of the soil or the atmos¬ 
phere over it should never exceed sixty degrees. This may 
be permitted to fall to forty and forty-eight degrees with¬ 
out injury to the plants. You will find a thermometer of 
much value in regulating the heat of your hot bed. The 1st 
of April is the time you will begin in earnest to make your 
hot beds. Thus, if you have good success, your plants 
will be ready to plant out from the 10th to the middle of 
May. 
How we leave our lady friends to prepare their hot beds, 
and in our next we will take their plants, which have just 
come up, and are showing from one to three leaves, and tell 
them all about other matters and things in relation to the 
future of their little seedlings. Ollipod Quill. 
The Zoological Garden. —The Zoological Society have 
received $91,000 toward a garden, and there are now four 
hundred members. The grounds have been laid out, and 
a handsome gate house has been erected. A fancy build¬ 
ing for monkeys, a deer house, and bear pits have been 
finished. 
The animals now in the garden consist principally of 
donations, and number about two hundred. Among the 
larger are two full grown buffaloes; one grizzly, one cinna¬ 
mon, two black and two brown bears; elks, black tail deer, 
etc., etc. In the collection there are also marmosets, silver 
gray foxes, prairie dogs, several varieties of wolves, hedge¬ 
hogs, ravens, eagles, parrots, birds, of different kinds, etc. 
A large aquarium is .soon to be commenced, $10,000 hav¬ 
ing been donated for that purpose by gentlemen interested 
in the science. Mammoth tanks, containing fresh and salt 
water collections, will be placed therein. When complet¬ 
ed, fresh water reptiles from all parts of the world, can be 
seen, making this building one of the most interesting fea¬ 
tures of the garden. 
A letter just received from the Superintendent of the 
garden, who is collecting animals, dated Melbourne, Aus¬ 
tralia, states that he has secured a large collection of the 
birds, animals, kangaroos, etc., of that far off land, which 
will be shipped to Philadelphia via. San Francisco, May 4, 
arriving in time for the opening of the garden. He was’ 
about to leave for India to secure lions, elephants, etc., 
which he hopes to have here by the same time. 
The last paragraph surprises us. If the “garden” is 
going into the general menagerie business, it will cost a 
mint of money and we should not like to be one of those 
responsible for the endless outlay .—Germantown Telegraph. 
-—-- 
—A monstrosity was still-born at Rutland, Vermont, a 
day or two since, being a calf with two heads, two necks, 
two well and fully formed breasts, and having six perfectly 
formed legs—four front or fore legs, and two hind ones. 
