THE MOOSE 
143 
jumble of tines and palmations. Occasionally 
these odd forms are also found among the moose 
of Ottawa and New Brunswick. 
But in Alaskan Moose antlers, freaky develop- 
ment is exceptional, and the real type is the 
same as that found on the moose of Nova Scotia, 
Manitoba and Minnesota. The largest antlers 
on record up to this date are perfectly regular. 
Apparently the Alaskan Moose find in summer 
an abundant supply of some food which is par- 
ticularly rich in horn-producing properties, and 
their enormous and freaky antlers are the result. 
Regarding the size, of Alaskan and other moose, 
it is well to weigh the best available evidence. 
So far as I am informed, the largest moose ever 
killed and measured by thoroughly experienced 
and reliable hands is the one already referred to 
which was shot in New Brunswick by Mr. Carl 
Rungius, the painter of American animals, whose 
knowledge of the external anatomy of that ani- 
mal is, as many believe, second to that of no 
other man. The accuracy and fairness of Mr. 
Rungius’ measurements of the animals he has so 
long studied in their wild haunts, is beyond ques- 
tion. According to Mr. Rungius, the moose re- 
ferred to above stood precisely 84 inches high at 
shoulders, and had a girth of 96 inches; but “for 
so large an animal its antlers were rather small.” 
The following measurements of moose, in 
inches, are of interest in determining the real 
value of prevailing impressions regarding the 
Alaskan animal, and its right to specific rank by 
reason of its great size : 
became an established industry. The unfort- 
unate fact that in many portions of southwest- 
ern Alaska Moose were easily found and killed, 
bore heavily against them. The Kenai Penin- 
sula partook of the character of a moose “pre- 
serve,” in everything save preservation. 
In 1902, through the combined efforts of nat- 
uralists and sportsmen, Congress enacted a law 
for the protection of the wild animals of Alaska, 
very wisely charged the Secretary of Agricult- 
ure with its enforcement, and vested him with 
wide discretionary power. It was a great day 
for big game, and for all persons interested in 
the preservation of our grandest wild animals, 
when the fauna of Alaska came under the pro- 
tection of Drs. C. Hart Merriam and T. S. 
Palmer, of the United States Biological Survey, 
who are specially charged with the enforcement 
of the Alaska game law. The killing of moose 
for salable heads promptly decreased. Ex- 
cepting by prospectors and natives in great need 
of food, no moose, white sheep, goat, caribou or 
big brown bear may be killed in close season 
without a special license signed by the Secretary 
of Agriculture ; nor can any skins, heads or antlers 
of protected game be transported from Alaska 
without permits. 
The only thing now necessary for the protec- 
tion of the valuable animals of Alaska is an 
annual appropriation of $25,000 for the pay of 
game wardens, and legal expenses, and the plac- 
ing of the entire salmon industry under the con- 
trol of the United States Fish Commission. 
BY WHOM SHOT AND 
MEASURED. 
LOCALITY. 
SEX. 
HEIGHT AT 
SHOULDERS. 
GIRTH. 
LENGTH OF 
HEAD AND 
BODY. 
Carl Rungius, . . . 
New Brunswick, 1 . . 
Male 
84 
96 
115 
Dali DeWeese, . . . 
Alaska , 2 .... 
Male 
80f 
91f 
119f 
L. L. Dyche, .... 
Minnesota, 1 .... 
Male 
78i 
A. J. Stone, .... 
Alaska,' 
Male 
774 
106 
Until the enactment of the national law of 
1902 for the preservation of wild animal life in 
Alaska, the huge antlers of the moose of Alaska 
threatened to cause the annihilation of the spe- 
cies in that territory. “Record heads” and 
“record antlers” began to be sought for by those 
who were able to buy them at high prices, and 
very promptly moose-killing for heads and horns 
1 Alces americanus. 2 Largest of several very large 
THE PECCARY FAMILY. 
Tayassuidae. 
The wild swine of the world form a group- 
which contains several remarkable forms. 
The wart hog, of Africa, is the ugliest of all 
land animals, and its head is of such a remark- 
able form that at first sight it seems like one of 
male specimens collected on the Kenai Peninsula. 
