790 



THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



muscle at its fullest tension, striving for the mastery. Soon one, a very large and 

 old bull, began to yield a little, going backward step by step, but at last, as if de- 

 termined to conquer or die, it dropped on its knees. The other, disengaging his 

 horns for a second, so as to gain an impetus, again rushed at him, but did not strike 

 him on the forehead, but on the neck, under the hump, and I could see that with a 

 twist of his horns he inflicted a severe wound. Instead, however, of following up 



SHORT-HORNED BUFFALO, SIERRA I,EONE VARIETY. 

 (One-twentieth natural size.) 



his advantage, this bull recoiled and hesitated, and was eventually charged by his 

 adversary full in the shoulder, after which he declined to continue the contest." 



The Cape buffalo has been described as the most dangerous of all South-African 

 animals, but both Mr. Drummond and Mr. Selous deny that this is really the case. 

 It is true that more fatal accidents occur in buffalo shooting than in any other sport, 

 but this is discounted by the circumstance that more of these animals are killed than 

 of any other large game. Although there are exceptions, buffalo do not generally 

 charge unless wounded; but cows with calves, or those wounded by lions are more 



