174 THE AMERICAN MOOSE 



vigor than if the physical weaklings enjoyed the 

 favors of the females on equal terms. The rutting 

 season over, however, the antlers are soon dropped 

 as a useless incumbrance. 



It is probable that the character of the available 

 food at the time when the antlers are growing 

 affects the season's growth to a greater extent 

 than is generally supposed. It is certain that in a 

 given district the average size of antlers is much 

 greater some years than others. A Russian 

 writer claims that food rich in phosphate of lime 

 and in tannin tends to promote the fullest develop- 

 ment of antlers. Knowing this fact those in charge 

 of elk in Russian preserves and parks regulate the 

 food of the animals accordingly. If they have pro- 

 duced any record-breaking antlers by this means 

 the fact is not recorded. It is said too that the 

 quantity and quality of the water furnished the elk 

 are important factors in antler-building. 



European writers who have had opportunity to 

 study moose in restricted preserves, observing the 

 same specimens year after year, assert that individ- 

 ual peculiarities are seen in successive years in the 

 cast antlers of certain moose, observable in spite of 

 the yearly increase in size and number of points. 



The possession of antlers by cow moose is 

 exceedingly rare, but is not altogether unknown. 



