630 THE BISON. 
sharply-pointed horns, with terrible effect. In disposition it is said to be rather morose 
and untameable, never having been really domesticated and brought under the dominion 
of man, even when taken at a very early age. 
It is a good swimmer, and is fond of dabbling in water, as well as of rolling itself in 
certain favoured mud-holes which it frequents. For this reason, it is generally found in 
thickets which border upon marshy land, ponds, or streams, and in consequence causes 
all experienced travellers to be very cautious how they approach such localities. Its food 
is various vegetable substances, and it is especially fond of lichens. In spite of its heavy 
and awkward look, it is sufficiently active and swift, running with considerable speed for 
a short time, but being unable to prolong the course for many miles. While running, it 
carries its head very low, placing the nose almost between the fore-feet. 
THE American Bison looks at first sight like an exaggeration of the aurochs, the hair 
of the body being thicker, more woolly, and more closely curled ; the mane, which hangs 
over the head and shoulders, actually reaching the ground, and the entire aspect of the 
animal more dowering. 
This creature is only found in Northern America, never appearing north of lat. 33°. 
It gathers together in enormous herds, consisting of many thousand in number, and 
in spite of the continual persecution to which it is subjected by man and beast, its 
multitudes are even now hardly diminished. The Bison is one of the most valuable of 
animals to the white hunter as well as to the aboriginal Red Indian, as its body supplies 
him with almost every necessary of life. 
The flesh of the fat cow Bison is in great repute, being juicy, tender, and well-savoured, 
and possesses the invaluable quality of not cloying the appetite, even though it be eaten 
with the fierce hunger that is generated by a day’s hunting. The fat is peculiarly excellent, 
and is said to bear some resemblance to the celebrated green fat of the turtle. The most 
delicate portion of the Bison is the flesh that composes the “hump,” which gives to the 
animal's back so strange an aspect ; and the hunters are so fond of this delicacy that they 
will often slay a magnificent Bison merely for the sake of the hump, the tongue, and the 
marrow-bones, leaving the remainder of the body to the wolves and birds. The pieces of 
hump-flesh that are stripped from the shoulders are technically called “ fleeces,” and some- 
times weigh as much as a hundred pounds. The flesh of the Bison is also made of 
exceeding value to voyagers and travellers by being converted into “pemmican,” a curious 
kind of preparation, which to the eye closely resembles tarred oakum, but which is 
composed of the dried fibres of Bison beef. ‘“Jerked” beef is also made from this 
animal, the meat being cut into long thin strips, and hung in the sunshine until black, 
dry, and almost as hard as leather. 
The hide is greatly valued by Indians and civilized men, for the many purposes which 
it fulfils. From this hide the Indian makes his tents, many parts of his dress, his bed, 
and his shield. For nearly the whole of these uses the skin is deprived of hair, and is so 
dressed as to be impervious to water, and yet soft and pliable. The shield is very 
ingeniously made by pegging out the hide upon the ground with a multitude of little 
wooden skewers round its edge, imbuing it with a kind of glue, and gradually removing 
the pegs in proportion to the consequent shrinking and thickening of the skin. One of 
these shields, although still pliable, is sufficiently strong to resist an arrow, and will often 
turn a bullet that does not strike it fairly. 
Sometimes the Bison is the means of saving the hunter from the terrible death of 
thirst, for it oftentimes happens that the prairie-men find themselves parched with thirst 
in the midst of vast plains, without a drop of water in their vessels, and no stream 
within a long day’s journey. Under these circumstances, they would inevitably die, were 
it not that they know how to have recourse to certain natural fountains which are never 
entirely empty. The Bison has the power of taking a large amount of water into its body, 
and depositing it in the “reticulum,” or cells of the honey-comb department of the stomach, 
until it shall be needed for use. The hunters, therefore, are not long at a loss for materials 
wherewith to quench their thirst as long as a Bison is in sight, but slay the animal at 
once for the sake of the water which they know wi!l be found in the usual situation. 
