ISO FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



sarily of gi'eat size, give great thickness to the neck, and by 

 their origin from the prolonged dorsal vertebral processes, foiTn 

 the peculiar projection called the hump. This hump is of an 

 oblong foi-m, diminishing in height as it recedes, so as to give 

 considerable obliquity to the line of the back. 



" The eye of the Bison is small, black and brilliant ; the horns 

 are black and very thick near the head, whence they curve up- 

 wards and outwards, rapidly tapering towards their points. 

 The outline of the face is convexly curved, and the upper lip, 

 on each side being papillous within, dilates and extends down- 

 wards, giving a very oblique appearance to the lateral gap of the 

 mouth, in this particular resembling the ancient architectural 

 bas-reliefs representing the heads of oxen. The physiognomy 

 of the Bison is menacing and ferocious, and no one can see this 

 animal in his native wilds, for the first time, without feeling in- 

 clined to attend immediately to his personal safety. The sum- 

 mer coat of the Bison differs from his winter dress, rather by 

 difference of length than by other particulars. In summer, from 

 the shoulders backwards, the hinder parts of the animal are all 

 covered with a very short fine hair, that is as smooth and soft to 

 the touch as velvet. The tail is quite short and tufted at the 

 end, and its utility as a fly- 1 rush is necessarily very limited. 

 The color of the hair is uniformly dun, but the long hair on the 

 anterior parts of the body is, to a certain extent, tinged with 

 yellowish or rust color. These animals, however, present so 

 little variety in regard to color, that the natives consider any 

 remarkable difference from the common appearance as result- 

 ing from the immediate interference of the Great Spirit. 



" Some varieties of color have been obsei-ved, although the in- 

 stances are rare. A Missouri trader informed the members of 

 Long's exploring party, that he had seen a greyish-white Bison, 

 and a yearling calf, that was distinguished by several white 

 spots on the side, a star or blaze in the forehead, and white fore 

 feet. Mr. J. Doughty, an intoi-preter to the expedition, saw in 

 an Indian hut a very well prepared Bison head, with a star on 

 the front. This was highly prized by the proprietor, who called 



