632 THE YAK. 
bows, will often give a better account of their day’s sport than many a white hunter 
armed with the best firelock. 
At certain seasons of the year, the whole Bison population becomes greatly excited 
about settling their matrimonial matters for the next twelvemonth, and dire are the 
quarrels among the bulls for favour in the eyes of their intended mates. Whole herds 
of these animals will run in a straight line for many miles, urged forward by some strange 
impulse, and being easily tracked, not only by the marks of their feet, which tear up the 
ground as if it he ad been ploughed, but by a succession of bull Bisons engaged in single 
combat, they having fallen out on the journey and halted to fight out their “quarrel. x 
cloud of wolves always hangs about the skirts of these herds, as the cunning animals 
are well aware of the dangers that beset the infuriated wars of Bisons, and accompany 
them in hopes of pouncing upon some feeble or wounded straggler. 
The Bison is remarkably fond of wallowing in the mud, and when he cannot find a 
mud-hole ready excavated, sets busily to work to make one for himself, Choosing some 
wet and marshy spot, he flings himself down on his side, and whirls round and 
round until he wears away the soil, and forms a circular and rather shallow pit, into 
which the water rapidly drains from the surrounding earth. He now redoubles his 
efforts, and in a very short time succeeds in covering himself with a thick coating of 
mud, which is probably of very great service in defending him from the stings of the 
gnats and other noxious insects which swarm in such localities. 
In the summer, the Bison fares luxuriously, living on the sweet green herbage that 
always sprinys up after the prairie has been swept by the fires that are continually 
blazing in one part or another. In winter, however, it is often pinched with hunger as 
well as with cold, and would fare very badly, did it not instinctively employ its broad nose 
in shovelling away the snow and laying bare the grass that lies unhurt beneath the white 
covering. The nose of the Bison is admirably adapted for this purpose, being broad, 
strong, and tough, so that it can execute a work with ease which is most painful to 
ordinary cattle, and causes their noses to bleed sadly, from the unaccustomed friction. 
So severe, however, is the labour, that even old Bisons are often seen with their noses 
excoriated and bleeding from the effects of their toil. Mr. Palliser mentions that the 
common domesticated calves have been observed to hang about a Bison bull when he 
was engaged in shovelling away the snow, and to eat the herbage which he disclosed, 
without showing the least fear. 
The Bison is a marvellously active animal, and displays powers of running and 
activity which would hardly be anticipated by one who had merely seen a_ stuffed 
specimen. The body is so loaded with hair that it appears to be of greater dimensions 
than is really the case, and seems out of all proportion to the slender legs that appear 
from under it and seem to bend beneath its weight. Yet the Bison is an enduring as 
well as a swift animal, and is also remarkably sure of foot, going at full speed over 
localities where a horse would be soon brought to a halt. 
The Yak, or GRUNTING Ox, derives its name from its very peculiar voice, which 
sounds much like the grunt of a pig. It is a native of the mountains of Thibet, and 
according to Hodson, it inhabits all the loftiest plateaus of High Asia, between the Altai 
and the Himalayas. 
It is capable of domestication, and is liable to extensive permanent varieties, which 
have probably been occasioned by the climate in which it lives and the work to which 
it has been put. The Noble Yak, for example, is a large, handsome animal, holding its 
head proudly erect, having a large hump, extremely long hair, and a very bushy tail. It 
is a shy and withal capricious animal, too much disposed to kick with the hind feet and 
to make threatentng demonstrations with the horns, as if it intended to impale the 
rider. The heavy fringes of hair that decorate the sides of the Yak do not make their 
appearance until the animal has attained three months of age, the calves being covered 
with rough curling hair, not unlike that of a black Newfoundland dog. The beautiful 
white bushy tail of the Yak is in great request for various ornamental purposes, and 
forms quite an important article of commerce. Dyed red, it is formed into those curious 
