WESTERN WJLD SPORTS. 
167 
Maine, where it is becoming rare. In Nova Scotia, the Isle of 
Breton, the country adjacent to the Bay of Fundy, and through¬ 
out the Hudson’s Bay possessions, the Moose is found in consi¬ 
derable numbers. 
“ The dense forests, and closely-shaded swamps of these re¬ 
gions, are the favorite resorts of this animal, as there the most 
abundant supply of food is to be obtained with the least incon¬ 
venience. The length of limb, and shortness of neck, which in 
an open pasture appear so disadvantageous, are here of essen¬ 
tial importance, in enabling the Moose to crop the buds and 
young twigs of the birch, maple, or poplar; or should he prefer 
the aquatic plants, which grow most luxuriantly where the soil 
is unfit to support other animals, the same length of limb ena¬ 
bles him to feed with security and ease. We cannot avoid be¬ 
lieving that the- peculiar lateral and slouching position of the 
nostrils is immediately connected with the manner in which the 
Moose browses. Their construction is very muscular, and 
seems very well adapted for seizing and tearing off the twigs 
and foliage of trees, and conveying them to the mouth ; it may 
also be designed to prevent the sense of smell from being at any 
time suspended by the prehension of food. The probability of 
this last suggestion is strengthened by the fact, that the Moose 
is endowed with an exquisite sense of smell, and can discover 
the approach of hunters at very great distances. When obliged 
to feed on level ground, the animal must either kneel, or sepa¬ 
rate the legs very widely. In feeding on the sides of acclivities, 
the Moose does so with less inconvenience by grazing from be¬ 
low upwards; the steeper the ground may be, so much the 
easier it is for this species to pasture. Yet, whenever food is 
to be procured from trees and shrubs, it is preferred to that 
which is only to be obtained by grazing. The Moose, like his 
kindred species, is a harmless and peaceful animal, except in 
the season when the sexes seek each other; then the males 
display a fierceness and pugnacity, which forms a strong con¬ 
trast to their ordinary actions. Were they only examined dur¬ 
ing such seasons, the character of the species would be entirely 
