no THE AMERICAN MOOSE 



Many a clever stalk, which has led to a moose 

 within easy gunshot, has ended in the disappoint- 

 ing discovery that it was only a cow moose, after 

 all. The first question then, when a track is 

 found is, is it a bull or a cow? The visible differ- 

 ences are not certain and precise. 



The hoofprint of the cow is generally more 

 pointed than that of the bull. The cow rarely 

 peels bark; the bull often does, especially in the 

 fall. The cow rarely browses fir; the bull rarely 

 browses birch. The balls of excrement of the 

 cow are oval and long; those of the bull are more 

 nearly spherical, and flattened by being pressed 

 together. If two or three moose are traveling in 

 company, as frequently happens, certain tracks are 

 likely to lead between trees which are close to- 

 gether, while the track of one animal may turn out 

 — indicating the possession of a pair of antlers 

 that could not be easily maneuvered in narrow 

 quarters. 



If a moose track leads to windward, and is 

 three or four hours old, it is safe to follow it rapidly, 

 for the animal's scent will not tell him that he is 

 pursued. If the track is much fresher, but the 

 moose is not stopping to feed, it may be followed 

 somewhat rapidly. When, however, the track is 



