BISON —Biso nericanus 
Vast quantities of Bisons are killed annually, whole herds being sometimes destroyed 
by the cunning of their human foes. The hunters, having discovered a herd of Bisons 
at no very great distance from one of the precipices which abound in the prairie- 
lands, quietly surround the doomed animals, and drive them ever nearer and nearer to 
the precipice. When they have come within half a mile or so of the edge, they suddenly 
dash towards the Bisons, shouting, firing, waving hats in the air, and using every means 
to terrify the intended victims. The Bisons are timid creatures, and easily take alarm, 
so that on being startled by the unexpected sights and sounds, they dash off, panic- struck, 
in the only direction left open to them, and which leads directly to the precipice, 
When the leaders arrive at the edge, they attempt to recoil, but they are so closely 
pressed upon by those behind them that they are carried forward and forced into 
the gulf below. Many hundred of Bisons are thus destroyed in the space of a few 
minutes. 
A much fairer and more sportsmanlike 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 
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 skilful riding contrives to separate 
it from its companions. He then rides boldly alongside the flying 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, armed with their little 
