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giraffe: he may be regarded as the giraffe of the frigid zone.

The moose loves the forest; he is rarely found in the open ground--on
the prairie, never.

On open level ground, he is easily overtaken by the hunter, as he makes
but a poor run in such a situation. His feet are tender, and his wind
short; besides, as we have already said, he cannot browse there without
great inconvenience. He keeps in the thick forest and the impenetrable
swamp, where he finds the food most to his liking.

In summer, he takes to the water, wading into lakes and rivers, and
frequently swimming across both. This habit renders him at that season
an easy prey to his enemies, the Indian hunters, for in the water he is
easily killed. Nevertheless, he loves to bury himself in the water,
because along the shores of lakes and margins of rivers he finds the
tall reed-grass, and the pond-lily--the latter a particular favourite
with him. In this way, too, he rids himself of the biting gnats and
stinging mosquitoes that swarm there; and also cools his blood, fevered
by parasites, larvae, and the hot sun.

The female moose produces one, two, and sometimes three calves at a
birth; this is in April or May. The period of gestation is nine-months.

During the summer, they are seen in families--that is, a bull, a cow,
and two calves. Sometimes the group includes three or four cows; but
this is rare.

Occasionally, when the winter comes on, several of these family parties
unite, and form herds of many individuals. When the snow is deep, one
of these herds will tread down a space of several acres, in which they
will be found browsing on the bark and twigs of the trees. A place of
this sort is termed by the hunters a "moose-yard;" and in such a
situation the animals become an easy prey. They are shot down on the
spot, and those that attempt to escape through the deep snow are
overtaken and brought to bay by dogs. This can only happen, however,
when the snow is deep and crusted with frost; otherwise, the hunters and
their dogs, as well as their heavier game, would sink in it. When the
snow is of old standing, it becomes icy on the surface through the heat
of the sun, rain, and frost; then it will bear the hunter, but not the
deer. The latter break through it, and as these animals are
tender-hoofed, they are lacerated at every jump. They soon feel the
pain, give up the attempt to escape, and come to bay.

It is dangerous for dogs to approa