520 THE YAK. 



A much fairer and more sportsman-like method of hunting these animals is practised by 

 red and white men, and consists in chasing the herds of Bisons and shooting them while at full 

 speed. This sport requires good horsemanship, a trained steed, and a knowledge of the habits 

 of the Bisons, as well as a true eye and steady hand. The hunter marks a single individual in 

 the herd, and by skillful riding contiives to separate it from its companions. He then rides 

 boldly alongside the Hying animal, and shoots it from the saddle. In this method of shooting, 

 the "hunter requires no ramrod, as he contents himself with pouring some loose powder into 

 the barrel, dropping a bullet from his mouth upon the powder, and firing across the saddle 

 without even lifting the weapon to his shoulder. The Indians are very expert in this sport, 

 and, furnished only with their little bows, will often give a better account of their day's sport 

 than many a white hunter armed with the best firelock. 



At certain seasons of the year, the whole Bison population becomes greatly excited about 

 settling their matrimonial matters for the next twelvemonth, and dire are the quarrels among 

 the bulls for favor in the eyes of their intended mates. Whole herds of these animals will run 

 in a straight line for many miles, urged forward by some strange impulse, and being easily 

 tracked, not only by the marks of their feet, which tear up the ground as if it had been 

 ploughed, but by a succession of bull Bisons engaged in single combat, they having fallen out 

 on the journey and halted to fight out their quarrel. A cloud of wolves always hangs about the 

 skirts of these herds, as the cunning animals are well aware of the dangers that beset the 

 infuriated wars of Bisons, and accompany them in hopes of pouncing upon some feeble or 

 wounded straggler. 



The Bison is remarkably fond of wallowing in the mud, and when he cannot find a mud- 

 nole ready excavated, sets busily to work to make one for himself. Choosing some wet and 

 marshy spot, he flings himself down on his side, and whirls round and round until he wears 

 away the soil, and forms a circular and rather shallow pit, into which the water rapidly drains 

 from the surrounding earth. He now redoubles his efforts, and in a very short time succeeds in 

 covering himself with a thick coating of mud, which is probably of very great service in 

 defending him from the stings of the gnats and other noxious insects which swarm in such 

 localities. 



In the summer, the Bison fares luxuriously, living on the sweet green herbage that 

 always springs up after the prairie has been swept by the fires that are continually blazing in 

 one part or another. In winter, however, it is often pinched with hunger as well as with cold, 

 and would fare very badly, did it not instinctively employ its broad nose in shovelling away 

 the snow and laying bare the grass that lies unhiirt beneath the white covering. The nose of 

 the Bison is admirably adapted for this purpose, being broad, strong, and tough, so that it can 

 execute a work with ease which is most painful to ordinary cattle, and causes their noses to 

 bleed sadly, from the unaccustomed friction. So severe, however, is the labor, that even old 

 Bisons are often seen with their noses excoriated and bleeding from the effects of their toil. 

 Mr. Palliser mentions that the common domesticated calves have been observed to hang about 

 a Bison bull when he was engaged in shovelling away the snow, and to eat the herbage which 

 he disclosed, without showing the least fear. 



The Bison is a marvellously active animal, and displays powers of running and activity 

 which would hardly be anticipated by one who had merely seen a stuffed specimen. The body 

 is so loaded with hair that it appears to be of greater dimensions than is really the case, and 

 seems out of all proportion to the slender legs that appear from under it and seem to bend 

 beneath its weight. Yet the Bison is an enduring as well as a swift animal, and is also remark- 

 ably sure of foot, going at full speed over localities where a horse would be soon brought 

 to a halt. 

 i 



THE YAK, or GRUNTING Ox, derives its name from its very peculiar voice, which sounds 

 much like the grunt of a pig. It is a native of the mountains of Thibet, and, according 

 to Hodson, it inhabits all the loftiest plateaus of High Asia, between the Altai and the 

 Himalayas. 



It is capable of domestication, and is liable to extensive permanent varieties, which have 



