at this season, go off at great speed, and unless the snow is extremely
deep, soon outstrip the hunters. They usually go in the direction of the
wind, making many short turns to keep the scent, or to avoid some bad
passage; and although they may sink to the bottom at every step, they
cannot be overtaken in less than three or four days. The females, on the
contrary, are remarkably fat, and it is not at all unfrequent to find in one
of them a hundred pounds of raw tallow. But let us return to the young
buck, which had regained the yard.
We found him still more untractable than the female we had left in
the hovel; he had trodden down the snow for a small space around him,
which he refused to leave, and would spring with great fury at any one
who approached the spot too near ; and as turning on snow-shoes is not
an easy operation, we were content to let him alone, and try to find one
in a better situation for capture, knowing that if we did eventually secure
him, he would probably in the struggle injure himself too much to live.
I have good reason to believe that the only practicable mode of taking
them uninjured, except when they are very young, is, when they are exhausted
and completely defenceless, to bind them securely, and keep
them so till they have become pacified and convinced of the uselessness of
any attempt at resistance. If allowed to exert themselves as they please,
they almost always kill themselves, as we found by experience.
On the following day we again set out, and coming across the tracks
of two young bucks, which had been started by the Indians, we pursued
them, and in two or three miles overtook them. As it was desirable to
obtain them as near the camp as possible, we attempted to steer them
that way. For a while we succeeded very well in our scheme, but at last
one of them, after making many ineffectual attempts to get another way,
turned upon his pursuer, who, finding himself not very safe, felt obliged
to shoot him. His companion, who was a little more tractable, we drove
on a short way, but as he had contrived to take many turnings, he could
approach us on his back-track too swiftly, so that we were compelled to
shoot him also. We " dressed*11 them, taking with us the tongues and
muffles, which are considered the most delicate parts.
We had not walked more than a quarter of a mile, when we perceived
some of the indications before mentioned, which we followed for half
a mile, when we came across a yard, and, going round it, we found where
the Moose had left it, though we afterwards learned that we had missed
a fine buck, which the dogs, however, afterwards discovered. We soon
overtook a female with a young one, and were not long in sight of them
when they stood at bay. It is really wonderful how soon they beat down
a hard space in the snow to stand upon, when it is impossible for a dogto
touch them, as they stamp so violently with their fore feet, that it is
certain death to approach them. This Moose had only one calf with her,
and on opening her we perceived that she would only have had one the
next year, though the usual number is two, almost invariably a male and
a female. We shot them with ball through the brain.
The Moose bears a considerable resemblance to the horse in his conformation,
and in his disposition a still greater, having much of the sagacity
as well as viciousness of that animal. We had an opportunity of observing
the wonderful acuteness of its hearing and smelling. As we were
standing by one, he suddenly erected his ears, and put himself on the
alert, evidently aware of the approach of some person. About ten minutes
after one of our party came up, who must have been at the time at hast
half a mile off, and the wind was from the Moose towards him.
This species of Deer feeds on the hemlock, cedar, fir or pine, but will
not touch the spruce. It also eats the twigs of the maple, birch, and
soft shoots of other trees. In the autumn they may be enticed by imitating
their peculiar cry, which is described as truly frightful. The hunter
gets up into a tree, or conceals himself in some other secure place, and
imitates this cry by means of a piece of birch-bark rolled up to give the
proper tone. Presently he hears the Moose come dashing along, and when
he gets near enough, takes a good aim, and soon dispatches him. It is
very unsafe to stand within reach of the animal, for he would certainly
endeavour to demolish you.
A full grown male Moose is said to measure nine feet in height, and
with his immense branching antlers presents a truly formidable appearance.
Like the Virginian Deer and the male Karaboo, they shed their
horns every year about the beginning of December. The first year their
horns are not dropped in spring. When irritated the Moose makes a
great grinding with his teeth, erects his mane, lays back his ears, and
stamps with violence. When disturbed he makes a hideous whining
noise, much in the manner of the Camel.
In that wild and secluded part of the country, seldom visited but by
the Indians, the Common Deer were without number, and it was with
great difficulty that we kept the dogs with us, as they were continually
meeting with " beats.1' In its habits that species greatly resembles the
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