230 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP, x 



away the sage-hens that I have shot ; these were birds which 

 we prized On one occasion, as we were travelling when moving 

 camp, I shot a jackass rabbit from the saddle, with my '577 rifle. 

 It gave me considerable trouble to dismount and open this animal, 

 which would have gained a prize for fat ; having cleaned it most 

 carefully, I stuffed the inside with grass, and attached it to the 

 saddle. 



We never had an opportunity of eating this splendid specimen ; 

 on inquiring, the cook had thrown it away, "because at this 

 season jackass rabbits fed upon sage shoots, and the flesh tasted 

 of sage !" 



As we shall return to the Big Horn range when treating upon 

 the habits of wapiti and other animals, I shall now refer to the 

 Indian bears, and commence with the most spiteful of the species, 

 Ursits lalmtus. 



