The Bison 131 



November and January. Soon after January, 

 however, the hair begins to grow loose, and it 

 is shed during the spring and early summer, 

 though often great patches cling to the body 

 until late summer or early fall. I have seen 

 buffalo in the month of July still clad in what 

 looked like a loose robe, the old hair hanging to- 

 gether in an almost complete mat, covering the 

 body. Usually, however, by rubbing against trees, 

 rocks, and banks of dirt, and by rolling on the 

 prairie, the loose hair is got rid of by early summer. 

 In very old animals the moult takes place later and 

 less easily than in those in good condition, and 

 sometimes old and lean buffalo do not seem to 

 shed their coats completely. 



The rutting season begins in July and lasts 

 about two months. During this time frequent 

 battles take place among the bulls, apparently 

 fierce on account of the size and activity of the 

 combatants, but usually without important re- 

 sults. These fights are much like similar con- 

 tests between domestic bulls ; they paw up the 

 ground, kneel down and thrust their horns into 

 the earth, mutter and bellow and grunt; but 

 although they charge on each other with fury, 

 and come together with a tremendous shock, the 



