204 



THE BISON. 



the maDy purposes which it fulfils. From this hide the Indian makes 

 his teuts, many parts of his dress, his bed, and his shield. For nearly 

 the whole of these uses the skin is deprived of hair, and is so dressed 

 as to be impervious to water, and yet soft and pliable. The shield is 

 very ingeniously made by pegging out the hide upon the ground with 



The Bison [Bison Americanus). 



a multitude of little wooden skewers round its edge, imbuing it with 

 a kind of glue, and gradually removing the pegs in proportion to the 

 consequent shrinking and thickening of the skin. One of these shields, 

 although still pliable, is sufficiently strong to resist an arrow, and will 

 often turn a bullet that does not strike it fairly. 



Vast quantities of Bisons are killed annually, whole herds being some- 

 times destroyed by the cunning of their human foes. The hunters, hav- 

 ing discovered a herd of Bisons at no very great distance from one of 

 the precipices which abound in the prairie-lands, quietly surround the 

 doomed animals, and drive them ever nearer and nearer to the preci- 

 pice. When they have come within half a mile or so of the edge, 

 they suddenly dash toward the Bisons, shouting, firing, waving hats in 

 the air, and using every means to terrify the intended victims. The 

 Bisons are timid creatures, and easily take alarm, so that on being 

 startled by the unexpected sights and sounds they dash off, panic-struck, 



