280 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



the creature.* Often have I made the experiment, 

 and the ball has rebounded, flattened, as if it had 

 been fired against an iron target. 



In spite of the enormous destruction caused by 

 the Indian trappers and pioneers among the innu- 

 merable herds which animate the monotony of the 

 prairies, many years must elapse before this prolific 

 race disappears from the American continent. In 

 spite of the numerous enemies who are banded for 

 their destruction, the bisons still pasture by thou- 

 sands upon the plains, and cover the verdant hills 

 of the Far West. It would be well, however, if the 

 American government could find some means of 

 preventing the ultimate disappearance of this noble 

 quadruped, which is such an ornament to the prairies, 

 and such a resource for the caravans which travel 

 to Sante-Fe and California. The extent to which 

 these animals are slaughtered may be imagined, 

 when I state, that in the United States and Canada 

 there are sold every year more than 900,000 of 

 their skins. Moreover, it is to be noted, that these 

 robes are those of the cows only, the skins of the 

 bulls being too thick to be easily tanned. The 

 Indians, moreover, keep a large quantity of the skins 

 for their own use — for their tents, beds, canoes, and 

 many other useful appliances. I ma}' add, more- 



* It should be observed that these experiences refer to a period 

 antecedent to the invention of the Minie bullet, and the modern arms 

 of force and precision. — Trans. 



