TRAITS AND HABITS OF THE MOOSE 71 



of conduct. Most other species of deer would 

 take refuge in unreflecting headlong flight, giving 

 no thought to the nature of the peril that was left 

 behind. And the moose's caution would involve 

 no hazard if it were not for that unaccountable 

 rifle. If the moose cannot fathom the mysteries of 

 firearms he at least is no worse off than those 

 sportsmen who, similarly deficient, are responsible 

 for the shooting accidents of the hunting season. 



A moose is easily tamed. If captured as a calf 

 he shows little fear of men. He is playful and good- 

 natured when young, but bad temper shows itself 

 later, during the rutting season, and in old moose 

 the temper is likely to be uncertain at all seasons. 

 In general the moose has been credited with a 

 better disposition than most other species of deer. 

 But deer of all species, including the moose, are 

 more dangerous when domesticated than when 

 wild, for the fear of man, which is man's safe- 

 guard in the woods, is then lost. 



It is rare that moose have been successfully 

 bred in captivity, nor do captive specimens often 

 live long. Two moose were secured in Maine in 

 1895 for the Cincinnati Zoological Garden, and 

 lived there in captivity nearly six years. They 

 bred once in that time, but the calf lived only 



