THE BISON. 9 



much difficulty, and with great care, perhaps two 

 years. 



During the months of August and September the 

 flesh of the bison bull is poor and disagreeably fla- 

 voured; they are however much more easily killed, 

 as they are not so vigilant as the cows, and some- 

 times allow the hunter to come up with them with- 

 out much difficulty. Lewis & Clarke relate that once 

 approaching a large herd, the bulls would scarcely 

 move out of their way and as they came near, the ani- 

 mals would merely look at them for a moment, as at 

 something new, and then quietly resume their graz- 

 ing. 



The general appearance of the bison is by no 

 means attractive or prepossessing, his huge and 

 shapeless form, being altogether devoid of grace and 

 beauty. His gait is awkward and cumbrous, al- 

 though his great strength enables him to run with 

 very considerable speed over plains in summer, or in 

 winter to plunge expeditiously through the snow. 



The sense of smelling is remarkably acute in this 

 animal, and it is remarked by hunters that the odour 

 of the white man is far more terrifying to them than 

 that of the Indian. From the neighbourhood of 

 white settlements they speedily disappear: this, 

 however, is very justly accounted for by Mr. Say, 

 who attributes it to the impolitic and exterminating 

 warfare, which the white man wages against all un- 

 subdued animals within his reach. 



As an exemplification of the peculiar strength of 



Vol. 111. 2 



