MOOSE DEER. 
188 
mouth against the tree, and scraping up ^vards with their sharp, gouge-like 
teeth, completely denuding the tree to the height of seven or eight feet 
from the surface of the snow. They remain near the same spot as long 
as any food can be obtained, seldom breaking fresh snow, but keeping to 
the same tracks as long as possible. 
“ The antlers begin to sprout in April, and at first appear like two black 
knobs. They complete their growth in July, when the skin which covers 
them peels off and leaves them perfectly white ; exposure to the sun and 
air, however, soon renders them brown. W^hen vve consider the immense 
size to which some of them grow in such a short period of time, it seems al- 
most incredible that two such enormous excrescences could be deposited 
from the circulating system alone ; the daily growth is distinctly marked on 
the velvety covering by a light shade carried around them. The first year 
the antlers are only about one inch long ; the second year, four or five 
inches, with perhaps the rudiment of a point ; the third year about nine 
inches, when each divides into a fork still round in form ; the fourth year 
they become palmated, with a brow antler and three or four points ; the 
fifth season they have two crown antlers and perhaps five points ; the 
points increasing in size each year, and one or two point.s being added 
annually, until the animal arrives at its greatest vigour ; after which 
period they decrease in size and the points are not so fully thrown out. 
The longest pair I ever met with had eighteen points, (others have seen 
them with twenty-three points,) they expanded five feet nine inches to the 
outside of the tips ; the breadth of palm, eleven inches without the points ; 
circumference of shaft, clear of the burr, nine inches; weight, seventy 
pounds ! The old and vigorous animals invariably shed them in December ; 
some of four and five years old I have known to carry them as late as 
March, but this is not often the case. 
“ The ratting season commences in September ; the males then become 
very furious, chasing away the younger and weaker ones. They run bel- 
lowing through the forest, and when two of equal strength meet, have 
dreadful conflicts, and do not separate until one or both are severely in- 
jured. I bought a pair of antlers from a Penobscot Indian, with one of the 
brow antlers and the adjoining prong broken short off. The parts were 
at least inches in diameter, and nearly as hard as ivory. At that 
season they are constantly on the move, swimming large lakes and crossing 
rivers in pursuit of the female. 
“ The female brings forth in May. The first time she produces one fawn, 
but ever afterwards two. It is supposed by hunters that these twins are 
always one a male and the other a female. 
“ In summer the hair of the Moose is short and glossy— in winter long and 
