I90 HABITS OF THE YAK. 



Its intelHg-ence, like that of the bovine tribe in 

 general, is of a very low order, a fact which is indi- 

 cated also by the remarkably small size of its brain. 



At all other times, except the rutting season, the 

 old bulls ^ keep single, or in small troops of three or 

 five ; younger fully grown males (six to ten years of 

 age) occasionally join their older companions, but 

 are more often found in separate troops of ten or 

 twelve, with one or two old bulls among them. The 

 females, young bulls, and calves assemble in enor- 

 mous herds of several hundred or a thousand head. 

 In such large numbers they have difficulty in finding 

 sufficient food, but the calves are thus best protected 

 from the attacks of wolves. 



While browsing they generally scatter over the 

 pasture, but when reposing lie close together.^ When 

 in danger they form a phalanx, the calves in the 

 centre, some of the full-grown males advancing to 

 reconnoitre. If the cause of the alarm be apparent, 

 and the hunter continue his approach, or if a shot 

 be fired, the whole herd takes to flight at a trot or 

 gallop, raising a cloud of dust, and the sound of 

 their hoofs is heard a long way off. This furious 

 pace, however, does not last long ; after a flight of 

 less than half a mile they slacken speed, and halt in 

 the same order as before, i.e. the young in the 

 centre, and the older males outside. If the hunter 

 again approach, the same tactics are repeated, and 

 once alarmed they will flee a long way. 



' It is said that the wild yak Uves to the age of twenty-five. 

 - During a violent storm the yak usually lies down. 



