ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 99 



marshy places. When feeding they are often scattered over 

 a vast surface ; but when they move forward in mass, they 

 form a densely impenetrable column, which once fairly in 

 motion can scarcely be impeded, though their unwieldy 

 appearance would indicate slight power of locomotion. They 

 swim large rivers in the same way in which they traverse the 

 plains. When flying from their pursuers, it is impossible for 

 the foremost to halt, since the herd rushing on in the rear, 

 the leaders must advance, though destruction await them. Of 

 this the Indians avail themselves, and no method could be 

 better devised to destroy them, than that of forcing a herd to 

 leap together from the brink of a precipice. 



It may not be uninteresting to relate how this is done. 

 One of the swiftest and most active young men is selected, 

 who disguised in a bison skin, having the head, ears, and 

 horns adjusted on his own head, stations himself between 

 the bison herd and some of the precipices that often extend 

 for miles along the rivers. The Indians surround the herd, 

 and at a given signal rush forward and show themselves with 

 yells. The animals alarmed, and seeing no way open to 

 them but in the direction of the disguised Indian, run tow- 

 ards him, and he taking to flight, dashes on to the precipice, 

 where he suddenly secures himself in some previously ascer- 

 tained crevice. The foremost of the herd arrives at the 

 brink ; there is no possibility of retreat, no chance of escape ; 

 they may shrink with terror, but the crowd behind, who are 

 terrified by the approach of the hunters, press forward, and 

 are hurled successively into the gulf where death awaits 

 them. One of the tributaries of the Mississippi derives its 

 name of " Slaughter River" from having been continually 

 used for this purpose. 



When the ice is breaking up on the rivers in the spring of 

 the year, the dry grass of the surrounding plains is set on 

 fire, and the bisons are tempted to cross the river in search 

 of the young grass that immediately succeeds the burning of 



