The National tribune., 1890-01-23

cal. Species makers will despise the ignorance
aud incapacity that prompts such statement
but spcces making j. 20 harmless an amuse-
ment that those whose mental tendencies make
them prone 20 il may be paud0ued for some i'm
patience at contradiction. The European moose
has tle anterior division 81 its antlers arranged
somewhat dIgeFn iiy from the American vaTi-
ETY.. and probably 10 IS d a paier hue: but in
Doll forms the horns, which are characteristic
features, are double brancl.ed. become palmated
after tive ihira year, and The p5steri0r ramus Is
Bnca the larger. These are Shed ia December
and reAiiAln their iuli size by the succeeding
JnBe. IL cannot be said that the moose is
HAEDsoaE ASINAL.
though many hunters have maintained that he
Is aH- imposing one His head Is very large
and owing 20 the excessive development OF the
caruagiHOus partition between the nostrils
and the ei0ngatior Of the upper lip IL is clumsy
and unsymmetrieal. The neck Is short 50
much 50 indeed that. with ITS long legs. this
prevents il from grazing on level ground
hatEtually. however, the moose br0Wses on the
bark and branches Of hardwood trees. aud on
shoot and shrubs 81 various kials Iis coat Is
e0mE0scd Of both wool and hair the former be-
Ing Bext the SKIN. In Summer the general
tint u fOlv0us on the upper part Of the body
aud yeiowish below. Tie inner part Of its
ears, which are long. and the nnder side OF the
short tail are white. while the Young two Of
Hhlch are usually born ia April or Nav. have
UNIFORM sandy brown color During warm
Hesi;aer moose frequent the Northern lakcs
partly 90 sUbmerec Themselves. and thus escape
insects, and parity % feed on the water lily
They are excellent swimmers as well as divers
and the bulb II tins plant is brought no from
the bottom by their expertness ia tie latter ac-
eninFlishment- tHOt is the usual gait. and
owing 10 the animals length Of limb enables
u 10 cover much ground. Unfortunately the
moose. which Is an inhabiiant Of cold countries.
q forced, on account Of its habitat both in
Europe aud AmeTica. % travel for a considera-
bic part Of every year over SHOW aud ice. and
ls piacod 81 q great disadvantage in so doing
from the formation Of its hoOfs-a DISADVANTAGE
also which exhibits 10 trace Of becoming les.
ened through adaptation. Unlike the rein
deer or caribou. IN which the hoof Is large
widely spread. and IN whom the frog Is all
soTned in Winter, leaving its under side con-
cave. tbe moose has q small foot IN which the
process % absorption does not occur SO that IL
sinks deeply from it, great weight in marsh
land o. snow. and is nearly helpless on clear
ice oTeE which q reindeer would trot at fuIl
sffeci TIE sharp edges Of its hOOfs acting ike
czlks o. a horses shoe Both on account OF il.
nesh, hide and destruct iveness. this creature
has been 50 much hunted that, IL not finally
protected, % would have become extinct in
northwestern Europe. while the animal has for
EakeH tracts which 10 formerly occuuied an fi,is
continent lts badiy-adapted feet have main.
~ contributed 10 such a result: but this great
drawback D. 10 a certain degree compensated
Tor BY the fact that the average births are twin
whereas The caribou brings forth but single
lawn. Where the moose is protected also lis
disposition affords an additional guarantee
against determination. Although a wild and
wary animal % exhibits no such antipatby 10
tbe mere prOpinquity d man, as impels other
feral creatures 10 fly from his presence and for
sake the regions ia which settlements have
been made. IL is true that for the most part
moose
TEHABIT DESERT TRACTS,
but both in North America and EuroDe they
have remained in many localities which have
been long populated aud il is said, upon the
best authority, that their young are readily do
hlesilcaied. On the other hand where very
considerable areas are a. It's disposal. or where
SIS numbers have been greatly diminished. this
animal, a. In the Swedish aud Russian pre-
serves. is threatened with extinction as the
physiological result of long-contiuued iu-breed.
Ing. which, IN the end, always entails iufertil-
lty and general degeneration.
Most Of what is known u the habits, endow-
menis, and special traits u the moose we owe
- Tie buUter hatuTaligts and among those gbo
have done most IN this direction there arc an
unusual number, not only Of very attractive
Miltrfs, but 81 men who seem 10 have been su-
perior to The temptation 70 construct premature
theories IN natural history The word moose
says Lieut. Campbell Hardy, comes from
moosee," Ia Nileoete and other Indian Ian.
Ruages Of the Northwest Provinces Whether
has form, however. be regarded as ungaiulv .
or the first sight Of the huge animal be attend
ca with extreme surprise" such as might be
experienced npon encOunteTinga megathcrium.
D. altogether matter Of taste. Chas C. Ward
And Lord DunraVen are not alone la their
opinion Of the splendid appearance of butt
moose, fully antlered and as tall as large sized
morse approaching an ambush toward which
be had been lured by the initiated cry Of the
COW. Free, excited and defiant. such an ant
NAL, seen amid the wierd aud melancholy
beauty the scene ia which be usually appears