WESTERN WILD SPORTS. 
171 
intestines is hard like suet, but all the external fat is soft, like 
that of a breast of mutton, and when put into a bladder is as 
fine as marrow. In this they differ from all other species of 
Deer, of which, the external fat is as hard as that of the kidneys.* 
“ The female Moose never has any horns; they bring forth 
their young, ‘ from one to three in number, in the latter end of 
April or beginning of May.’t The male Moose often exceeds 
the largest Horse in size and bulk ; the females are much less 
than the males and differently colored. The hair of the male is 
long and soft, like that of the common Deer; it is black at the 
tip, but within it is of a common ash color, and at the base pure 
white. The hair of the female is of a sandy-brown color, and in 
some places, especially under the throat, belly and flank, is 
nearly white at tip, and altogether so at base. 
“ The skin of the Moose is of great value to the Indians, as 
it is used for tent covers, clothing, &c. 
“ The Moose, like other Deer inhabiting the northern regions, 
is exceedingly annoyed by insects, which not only feast upon 
its blood, but deposit their eggs in different parts of its body, 
along the spine, within the cavities of the nose, mouth, &c. 
These eggs, when hatched, form large larvae, or maggots, that 
feed on the parts within which they are placed, until ready to 
assume their perfect or winged condition, when they perforate 
the skin and take flight. So great a number of such perfora¬ 
tions are made at certain seasons that the skins of the Moose 
are rendered worthless to the hunter, unless it be for the pur¬ 
pose of cutting them into thongs for nets, and other uses.”— 
Godman’s American Natural History. 
* Hearne. t Ibid. 
