HISTORY OF THE BISON. 69 



parts of Europe. The wool has in England been manufac- 

 tured into a fine cloth. Pemmican is made of the flesh and 

 fat of the American Buffalo. 



"The Bison wanders constantly from place to place, 

 either from being disturbed by hunters, or in quest of food. 

 They are much attracted by the soft tender shoots, which 

 spring up after a fire has spread over the prairie. In 

 winter they scrape away the snow with their feet, to reach 

 the grass. The bulls arid cows live in separate herds for 

 the greater part of the year ; but at all seasons one or two 

 old bulls generally accompany a large herd of cows. In 

 the rutting season, the males fight against each other with 

 great fury, and at that period it is very dangerous to approach 

 them. The Bison is, however, in general a shy animal, 

 and takes to flight immediately on winding an enemy, which 

 the acuteness of its sense of smell enables it to do from a 

 great distance. They are less wary when they are assem- 

 bled together in numbers, and will often blindly follow 

 their leaders, regardless of, or trampling down the hunters 

 posted in their 'way. It is dangerous for the hunter to show 

 himself after having wounded one, for it will pursue him, 

 and, although its gait may appear heavy and awkward, it 

 will have no great difficulty in overtaking the fleetest run- 

 ner. One of the Hudson Bay Company'5 clerks was 

 descending the Saskatchewan in a boat, and having one 

 evening pitched his tent for the night, he went out at dusk 

 to look for game. It had become nearly dark when he 

 fired at a Bison bull which was galloping over a small 

 eminence, and as he was hastening forward to see if his 

 ball had taken effect, the wounded beast made a rush at 

 him. He had the presence of mind to seize the animal by 

 the long hair on its forehead, as it struck him on the side 

 with its horns, and being a remarkably tall and powerful 

 man, a struggle ensued, which continued till his wrist was 

 severely sprained, and his arm rendered powerless. He 



