THE MOOSE. 
461 
the country. A moose of the largest size was shot in the town 
of Russell, near the Grass River. It is described as " standing 
considerably more than six feet in height, with monstrous horns 
to match." It was frozen in a standing position, and exhibited 
as a curiosity in the same part of the country where it had been 
shot ; many people went to look at him, never having seen one 
before. He was supposed to have strayed out of a large tract of 
forest to the southward, called the " South Wood." 
These large quadrupeds are still rather numerous in the north- 
ern forest counties of New York ; their tracks are frequently seen 
by the hunters, but they are so wary, and their senses are so 
acute, that it requires great art to approach them. It is chiefly 
in the winter, when they herd together, that they are shot. 
They are ungainly creatures, with long legs, and an ill-shaped 
head, heavy horns, and a huge nose. The other animals of their 
tribe are all well formed, and graceful in their movements ; but 
the moose is awkward, also, in his gait. His long legs enable him 
to feed on the branches of trees, whence his name of moose, from 
the Indian musee or musu, wood-eater. It is well known that our 
striped maple is a great favorite with him. He is partial, also, to 
aquatic plants, the pond-lily in particular. It will also eat bark, 
which it peels off from old trees. In winter, these animals hei'd 
together in the hilly woods, and they are said to sliovv great sa- 
gacity in treading down the snow to form their moose-7/ards. In 
summer, they visit the lakes and rivers. At this season they are 
light brown ; in winter they become so much darker, that they 
have been called the Black Elk. As they grow old they genei-- 
ally become, indeed, almost black. 
Dr. De Kay believes our moose to be identical with the elk of 
