THE MOOSE. 
37 
Is this animal of any use to man ? 
Although he cannot be made to work with any profit, 
the Moose is still a very useful animal, particularly to 
the Indians, and others who travel through the country 
where he lives. His flesh is excellent meat, and his skin 
is made into shoes, and sometimes even into small boats, 
in which the Indians paddle across rivers. His horns 
are worked into spoons, knife handles, and other useful 
things. 
The horns of this animal are spread out at a great 
distance from each other, and on the old males are 
sometimes so exceedingly large, as to weigh near sixty 
pounds. They are shed, or cast off, every year, in the 
month of November, but grow again in the beginning of 
the next year, always increasing in size from one year 
to another. 
When the Moose runs through the woods, he holds up 
his nose, so as to throw his horns backwards, nearly on 
his neck, in order to prevent their striking against the 
trees. This, however, does not always secure such a 
wide pair of horns from being caught among the small 
trees, or grape vines, by which he is sometimes tied so 
fast that he cannot get away, and in this state is easily 
taken and destroyed. 
MOOSE HUNTING. 
In the winter season, these animals live in small herds, 
in the thickest forests, both for the purpose of finding 
shelter from the cold, and of obtaining their food, which 
then consists entirely of the small twigs of trees, and of 
such moss as they can gather above the snow. 
At this season of the year, they are hunted in the fol¬ 
lowing manner. The hunters choose a time when the 
snow is three or four feet deep, and covered with ice, so 
as to form a crust, which will bear the weight of them¬ 
selves and their dogs, but not the weight of the Moose. 
Several men, at such a time, get ready for the hunt, by 
preparing their tent, blankets and provisions, so as to stay 
in the woods for three or four days and nights. They 
then take their dogs and guns with them, and go into the 
wilderness, and search among the thickest trees, until 
they find what is called fPMoose yard. Now a Moose 
yard, is a place in the thickest woods, where a number 
of these animals have lived for days, or perhaps for 
weeks, without going any further through the snow than 
was necessary to obtain their food. Hence the snow is 
trod down in such places, so as to look like a yard where 
cattle are kept. Having found such a place, the hunt¬ 
ers call in their dogs, and having set up their tent, wrap 
themselves in their blankets, and keep still until the 
next morning, so as to take the day before them, when 
they begin the hunt. In the morning, they are sure to 
find the Moose still in the yard, or near it, because they 
6 
cannot go far through the snow crust. Having kept still 
in their tent until about the dawn of day, the hunters 
rise, and after taking some breakfast, begin the hunt. 
They in the first place, send in their dogs to start up the 
game, and the Moose, finding themselves beset by these 
animals, of whom they are exceedingly afraid, make use 
of their long legs to carry them through the snow, at 
first, with great swiftness. But they soon find, that the 
snow crust so cuts their legs, that they cannot run far, 
but are obliged to stop, and defend themselves against 
the dogs, in the best manner they are able. The hunters 
hearing the cry of their dogs, know which way to pur¬ 
sue, and as they can walk on the crust, are soon up with 
them, where they find the Moose at bay, keeping oflf the 
dogs with his fore feet and horns. The hunters are now 
sure of their prey, for being within gun shot, they soon 
bring the poor animal to the ground, with the bullets 
from their deadly rifles. Having done this, they then 
proceed after another of the herd, which they take in 
the same manner, and thus destroy the whole, one after 
the other. 
THE OX TRIBE. 
The common Ox needs no description. For the qual¬ 
ities of patience and submission, even under the hardest 
and most cruel treatment, the domestic Ox is not outdone 
by any animal. The Wild Ox, which is found in sev¬ 
eral countries, is a ferocious, and often a very dangerous 
animal. 
THE COW. 
How will you describe the Cow ? 
The Cow is a domestic quadruped, which has eight 
foreteeth in the under jaw, but none in the upper jaw. 
Her horns are turned forward, and are not branched ; 
her hoofs are divided ; she chews the cud, and her tail is 
long, with a bushy end. 
What can be said of the usefulness of this animal ? 
She is the most useful animal, that the Creator, in his 
kindness, has given to man. The poor, in many coun¬ 
tries, could not live without her milk, while the rich 
would hardly think they lived comfortably, without her 
butter and cheese. 
Of what other use is the cow ? 
The skin of the Cow is converted into leather, of which 
shoes and boots are made; her horns are made into 
knife handles, and combs; her flesh makes beef; her 
tallow makes candles, and her feet make glue. 
Why is the cow so tame and gentle ? 
