2 GO ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



lash froin fifteen to eighteen feet long. Then he must 

 have a sling, with which he takes unerring aim at each 

 individual of his straggling herd ; then a wolf-stick, with 

 a knob of iron at the end, hangs from his saddle ; and a 

 cask of water, a bag of bread, and a bottle of brandy, 

 are necessary parts of his equipment, lie pays for every 

 horse that is lost. In ten years he is worn out, yet is 

 unfit for any other life. He lives in constant dread of 

 horse-stealers, notwithstanding which he steals them 

 himself. 



4 From Easter to October the herds graze day and 

 night in the steppes. In the winter they are sheltered 

 at night by mounds of earth, and a sort of roof, from 

 the north. The stallions and stronger horses take pos- 

 session of the shed, and the rest stand outside huddled 

 together. In severe winters sickness and death over- 

 take them, and those who survive walk about like 

 spectres. But when they eat the young grass, which 

 appears when the snow is melted, they are as wild and 

 mischievous as ever. The stallions seem to consider 

 themselves as the chiefs of the herd ; and one of these, 

 by right of strength, is the chief par excellence. Some- 

 times one stallion will have affronted the rest, and all 

 combine to turn him out; and then he will be seen 

 opart from them, with a few mares attending him. 1 

 Occasionally two herds will fight for right of pasture. 

 The mares and foals keep aloof ; the stallions flourish 

 their tails, erect their manes, rattle their hoofs together, 

 and fasten on each other with their teeth, the victorious 

 party carrying off several mares. 



4 In the spring come the wolves, being very fond of 



1 This seems to confirm the opinion of tlie Indians concerning 

 the solitary elephants. 



