MOOSE DEER. 
187 
creeks or lakes, on the margins of which their tracks are seen, like those 
of common cattle ; they enter the water and immerse their bodies to save 
themselves from the bites of flies, &c. 
In all probability, where wolves are yet abundant, these are their 
most dangerous enemies besides man ; but at the present time, few 
of these rapacious animals are to be found in the neighbourhood of 
Quebec. The Moose deer are frequently killed while in the water, 
or on the shores of some pond, lake or river ; but when their young 
are with them, they will run and chase the hunter, and it is sometimes 
difficult for him to escape, unless he is so fortunate as to .shoot and bring 
them down. 
‘‘ The flesh is considered very good, especially the. moufflon, which forms 
the upper lip, and is very rich, juicy and gelatinous. This is cleaned and 
dressed in the same manner as ‘ calves’ head.’ The hunters salt their meat 
for winter use. The steaks are as good as beef steaks ; but the Moose are 
not generally fat, although their flesh is Juicy and at times teiwier. The 
young at the age of twelve months are never tough, and their flesh is prefer- 
able to that of the old beasts. The inside of the mouth above, or palate, is 
extremely hard, and lays in folds, giving this animal the power of gripping 
( seizing ) the bark or the branches of trees, by which means it tears them 
off with ease. This pad is placed immediately beneath the extremity of 
the moufflon, and is about two inches long. 
“ These animals feed principally on the birch, the moose-wood, the aspen, 
and various kinds of leaves and grasses ; in captivity they eat hay and 
other dry food, even hard ship-biscuit. The females are called ‘ cows,’ 
the males ‘ bulls,’ and the young ‘ calves.’ Their droppings resemble those of 
ihe deer kind. Although the Moose swim well they are not known to dive, 
the}’ swim with the head and part of the neck above water, like cattle. When 
pursued in boats they frequently attempt to upset them, and at times open 
their mouths and make a loud snorting noise, striking at the same time 
with their forefeet, and occasionally sink the canoes of the Indians or hun- 
ters. Upon one occasion, a young man going fishing, and having his fowl- 
ing-piece along, on turning a point of a lake, saw a large Moose in the 
■water and fired at it with shot, tickling it severely. The Moose at once 
made for the canoe ; and whilst the alarmed fisherman was attempting to 
escape, his boat became entangled in the branches of a fallen tree, when 
he was forced to give up the canoe and g >' away as he best could ; the 
animal on reaching the boat completely demolished it. Unfortunately, the 
females are sometimes killed when they are with calf. They do not gene- 
rally make any noise in the woods, unless when provoked, but in captivity 
they utter a plaintive sound, much resembling that made by the black bear. 
