lly seeks it in such situations; and it may often be seen
browsing up the side of a hill, with its legs spread widely on both
sides of its neck. But its favourite food is found at a more convenient
height, and consists of the young shoots of many species of trees. It
prefers those of the poplar, the birch-tree, and willows, and one kind
of these last, the red willow, is its particular favourite. The
"striped" maple (_Acer striatum_) is also much relished by the moose--
hence the name "moose-wood," by which this tree is known among the
hunters. It loves also the common water-lilies (_Nympha_); and in
summer it may be seen wading out into lakes, and plucking up their
succulent leaves. It takes to the water also for other purposes--to
cool its body, and rid itself of several species of gnats and mosquitoes
that at this season torment it exceedingly. At such times it is more
easily approached; and the Indians hunt it in their canoes, and kill it
in the water, both with spears and arrows. They never find the moose,
however, in large numbers--for it is a solitary animal, and only
associates in pairs during one part of the year, and in families at
another season--as Basil now found it. In winter the Indians track it
through the snow, following it upon snow-shoes. These give them the
advantage of skimming along the surface, while the moose plunges through
the deep drift, and is therefore impeded in its flight.
Notwithstanding, it will frequently escape from the hunter, after a
_chase of several days' duration_! Sometimes, in deep snow, a dozen or
more of these animals will be found in one place, where they have got
accidentally together. The snow will be trodden down until the place
appears as if enclosed by a wall. This the hunters term a
"moose-pound," and when found in such situations the moose are easily
approached and surrounded--when a general _battue_ takes place, in which
few or none of the animals are allowed to escape.

I have said that Basil's heart beat high at the sight of the moose. He
was very desirous of killing one--partly on account of the novelty of
the thing, and partly because he and his companions at the camp were
anxious for a change of diet. Moose-meat was the very thing; and he
knew that if he could return to camp with a few pieces of this strung
over his gun, he would receive a double welcome. He was well aware that
the flesh of the moose was of the most savoury and delicate kind, and
th