40 
MAMMALIA. 
law might not be enacted and enforced in our own State with like 
good results. 
NOTES ON EXTERMINATED AND EXTINCT UNGULATES. 
Note i. — It is not many years since the Moose (A Ice A mericanus) 
was a favorite object of pursuit in the Adirondacks, from which 
region it was exterminated, as nearly as I can ascertain, about the 
year 1861. 
Dr. DeKay, in his Zoology of New York, said of these animals : 
“ They are yet numerous in the unsettled portions of the State, in 
the counties of Essex, Herkimer, Hamilton, Franklin, Lewis, and 
Warren ; and since the gradual removal of the Indians, they are 
now (1841) believed to be on the increase .... The Moose 
furnishes an excellent material from its hide for moccasins and 
snow-shoes. The best skin is obtained from the bull Moose in 
October, and usually sells for four dollars. They were formerly so 
numerous about Raquet Lake, that the Indians and French Cana- 
dians resorted thither to obtain their hides for this purpose ; and 
hence we have the origin of the name of that lake, the word raquet 
meaning snow-shoes. They still exist in its neighborhood.” 
The Moose is a huge animal, the adult males often standing six 
feet in height at the shoulders, and exceeding a thousand pounds 
in weight, Evidence of its former presence here may still be seen 
in various parts of the Wilderness, where the long scars of its 
“ peelings ” yet remain. These commonly consist of small soft or 
swamp maples ( Acer rubrum L.) and striped maples (A. Pennsyl- 
vanicum L.) from which the bark has been stript, from a short 
distance above the ground to the height of eight or even ten feet. 
Th is bark, together with the branches of the same tree, and several 
kinds of browse, constitute its principal food in winter. In sum- 
mer it feeds also upon marsh grasses and aquatic plants, notably 
upon the roots of the pond lily. 
