222 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



meant danger, or else they were so blind that they could 

 not see us while lying still, for motion seems to be one of 

 the necessary conditions to their recognition of objects. 



While amusing ourselves in this manner, one of our par- 

 ty noticed a number of trupials hastening past us, and he 

 announced the event by jumping up suddenly and shout- 

 ing, " I say, boys, there's buffaloes round yere somewhere, 

 for there go the buffalo-birds; so we'd better be off." His 

 suggestion was acted upon at once, and a few moments 

 later we were following the route taken by the winged 

 pilots. These, which are known in portions of the West 

 as " buffalo-birds," are of a dark-brown color, and are really 

 blackbirds. Flocks of them are nearly always found with 

 the animals that have given them their name, and the two 

 seem to get along well together, judging from the fact 

 that the former may be seen perched on the backs of the 

 latter and pecking away at the hide in the most familiar 

 manner. 



After riding about a mile, we saw a group of what we 

 supposed to be our quarry a short distance away, and care- 

 fully approached it, but, on getting within range, found we 

 had been stalking fleshless skulls that must have lain there 

 two or three years at least. This proving a severe disap- 

 pointment, we moved onward in silence. A short distance 

 beyond this spot we saw two splendid herds coming from 

 water, and, as they were advancing in our direction, we 

 decided to await their approach. The usual impatience 

 of delay was appeased, however, by watching the animals 

 gambolling about in the most playful manner, and noting 

 the mock contests of the unwieldy bulls. These would 

 rush at each other as if about to engage in a deadly strife, 

 but, after one or two pushes, they would break away and 

 frisk about in the liveliest manner, as if they felt extremely 

 happy. Others were rooting up the ground and scattering 

 it about with their horns, and not a few were trying the 

 quality of their voice in low, deep tones, which, if gruff, 

 were not unmusical. The scene was full of life and inter- 

 est, and we were enjoying it very much when the animals 



