364 



FAIRY RINGS; AND THE FAIRIES WHO 

 MAKE THEM 



Travellers along the great grassy plains that extend for 

 hundreds of miles on the eastern side of the Eocky 

 Mountains, to an immense distance north and south, 

 have been surprised to see dotted about, circles of grass 

 much greener and richer than the rest of the country, to 

 which they have given the name of ' fairy rings.' 



They might watch for many moonlight nights without 

 seeing the fairies making these rings in their dances, or if 

 any traveller did happen to pass them by, he would not 

 for one moment guess whose fairy feet tread made the 

 grass so thick and bright. For the real fairies are huge 

 clumsy creatures, with such enormous heads that it 

 seems as if the animal must always be tumbling over 

 from the weight,, and they are covered from head to foot 

 with very dark thick hair, which forms a dense shaggy 

 mane over the head and shoulders. And these fairies 

 have horns, not long, but very powerful, and are fond of 

 fighting, which they have plenty of time for, as they are 

 very sociable, and live together in large herds, some- 

 times, as many as three or four thousand at once. And 

 they are known in the countries they inhabit by the name 

 of bisons or buffaloes. 



Now, it may be thought that the buffaloes which live 

 on the prairies or plains on the borders of Texas and 

 Mexico would lead a much easier and pleasanter life than 

 their brothers far away up in Canada, but this is not so. 



