TRAITS AND HABITS OF THE MOOSE 97 



the author, with considerable experience in hunting 

 moose in Maine and the maritime provinces, has 

 never found moose so nearly "halter-broke" as 

 those described by Mr. Shiras, Mr. Selous, and Mn 

 Niedieck. 



Deep snow, crusted, leaves the moose compara- 

 tively helpless in the presence of wolves, cougars, 

 and men. At no other season need a full-grown 

 moose fear any animal which seeks his prey without 

 the aid of firearms. 



When the snow becomes deep moose gather in 

 "yards." The little community usually consists 

 of from three to half a dozen animals, mostly 

 young bulls, cows, and calves. The old bulls are 

 inclined to keep by themselves. The yarding 

 place is chosen where feed is plenty, and a network 

 of paths admits of considerable movement within 

 a limited area. When the feed is exhausted in 

 this area a path is broken to some neighboring 

 thicket, and so, by an occasional short migration, 

 the food problem is easily solved. If a season's 

 snowfall chances to be light, the moose do not 

 yard at all, yarding seeming to be dictated solely 

 by an instinct which thus provides protection 

 for the weaker animals, at the season when escape 

 from danger by flight is impossible. With the 



