CATTLE IN BLIZZARDS. 23 



while the coat is much longer and more wavy than the half- 

 breeds. A young three-quarter bred bull, at three years old, 

 pulled down the scale at 2400 Ibs., when grass-fed in autumn. 

 They produce a robe, in beauty and evenness superior to 

 that of the buffalo, everywhere a beautiful rich brown, and 

 as heavy as any buffalo robe. The robe of the half-breeds 

 is even in length on all parts, and without curl, like a heavy 

 bear skin." * 



But there are other qualities which should strongly 

 commend these animals to the attention of the agricul- 

 tural world, namely, the extreme hardiness which they 

 have inherited from their wild forefathers. 



The losses which have sometimes been sustained by 

 stockmen in the United States, Canada, and Australia, 

 by severe storms of icy winds known as "Blizzards," 

 are well known, and are referred to in some detail in 

 other portions of this work, f If we can rely upon 

 the accounts given in Forest and Stream, from which 

 we have quoted, however, the hybrid buffalo cattle 

 seem made to meet this difficulty, which we apprehend 

 is one which will always make itself more or less felt 

 upon wide plains, towards the polar side of this zone. 

 Even so far South as Texas, these storms are at times, 

 exceedingly severe and destructive, and under the name 

 of "Northers," are much dreaded by the inhabitants, as 

 we have already shown. According to the author 

 of Forest and Stream, 



" In severe storms" (Blizzards) " domestic cattle turn tail to the 

 wind" (and are unable to face it). "Buffalo do just the 

 reverse they face the storm, and work up against it. This 



* From American Sporting Paper Forest and Stream, of April 18, 

 1889. 



f See our Section on Climates and Temperatures. Vol. i, Chapt. iv. 

 Ibid. 



