8o 
NATURAL HISTORY 
fame fpecies, which died the fpring before. In the fame garden 
was a young fliag, or red deer, between whom and this moofe it 
was hoped that there might have been a breed; but their inequality 
of height muft have always been a bar to any commerce of the 
amorous kind. 1 fliould have been glad to have examined the 
teeth, tongue, lips, hoofs, &c. minutely; but the putrefadlion 
precluded all farther curiofity. This animal, the keeper told me, 
feemed to enjoy itfelf beft in the extreme froft of the former winter. 
In the houfe they fhewed me the horn of a male moofe, which had 
no front-antlers, but only a broad palm with fome fnags on the 
edge. The noble owner of the dead moofe propofed to make a 
Ikeleton of her bones. 
Pleafe to let me hear if my female moofe correfponds with that 
you faw ; and whether you think ftill that the American moofe and 
.European elk are the fame creature. I am. 
With the greateft efteem, &c. 
LETTER XXIX. 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, May 12, 1770. 
Last month we had fuc"h a feries of cold turbulent weather, 
fuch a conftant fucceffion of froft, and fnow, and hail, and 
tempeft, that the regular migration or appearance of the fummer 
birds was much interrupted. Some did not ftiew themfelves (at 
leaft 
