THE BISON. 



Some travellers are of opinion that they have seen 

 as many as eight or ten thousand in the same herd, 

 but this is merely a coujecture. At night it is im- 

 possible for persons to sleep near them who are un- 

 accustomed to their noise, which from the incessant 

 lowing and roaring of the bulls, is said very much 

 to resemble distant thunder. Although frequent 

 battles take place between the bulls, as among do- 

 mestic cattle, the habits of the bison are peaceful 

 and inoffensive, seldom or never offering to attack 

 man or other animals, unless outraged in the first 

 instance. They sometimes, when wounded, turn on 

 the aggressor, but it is only in the rutting season 

 that any danger is to be apprehended from the fe- 

 rocity and strength of the bison bull. At all other 

 times, whether wounded or not, their efforts are 

 exclusively directed towards effecting their escape 

 from their pursuers, and at this time it does not 

 appear that their rage is provoked particularly, by 

 an attack on themselves, but their unusual intre- 

 pidity is indiscriminately directed against all sus- 

 picious objects. 



We shall conclude this account of bison, by in- 

 troducing the remarks of John E. Calhoun, Esq.,* 

 relative to the extent of country over which this 

 animal formerly roved and which it at present in- 

 habits. 



* Long's Exp. to the source of the St. Peter's river, ii. 

 p. 28. 



