THE AMERICAN BISON 



181 



The European aurochs and the American bison thus form 

 a pair of species which are separated off from all other 

 animals by certain details of their structure. Their nearest 

 ally appears to be the Asiatic animal known as the yak, 

 a beast which in a wild state inhabits Chinese Thibet. 

 The yak differs from the bison in not having a mane, but 

 it has something the appearance of a mediaeval knight's 

 caparisoned horse with flowing drapery on either side. 

 This is represented in the yak by a fringe of long hair 



FIG. 45. 



hanging down from the shoulders, flanks, and thighs 

 nearly to the ground, while the tail bears a wonderful 

 mass of long, silky hair. Tame yaks are used as beasts 

 of burden, and they are very serviceable for travers- 

 ing the high, desolate regions of Thibet, and would 

 be much more so but for their requiring grass as food 

 and refusing corn. They are often crossed with domestic 

 cattle, and the white tails of such half-bred animals 

 are much Valued in India, where they are known as 

 " chowries," and used as fans to drive away flies and 

 other insects. 



