THE INDIAN BISON 



at certain times ; consequently it by no means 

 follows, when a male bison is found alone, that 

 he is a veritable "solitary bull." The real solitary 

 bull is an aged animal who is no longer able to 

 hold his own with younger and stronger rivals, 

 and who is therefore compelled by stern necessity 

 to lead a life apart from the females. Frequently 

 two single bulls meet and keep together for some 

 time at least, the absence of the other sex prevent- 

 ing any reason for disagreement between them. 

 Owing mainly to the fact that comparatively few 

 natives will eat bison meat, this noble animal is 

 still very plentiful in suitable localities. If the 

 majority, or even a considerable minority, of the 

 meat-eating sections of the people of the country 

 were not imbued with this prejudice, the natives 

 would long ere this have done their best to exter- 

 minate the bison, as they are doing in the case 

 of deer, antelope, etc., which the carnivorous castes 

 shoot down, snare, and destroy, irrespective of sex 

 or age. 



Bison calves, if captured, are exceedingly difficult 

 to rear, and they usually die while quite young. 

 A few have, however, been brought up in captivity, 

 notably one belonging to Major R. (of the 

 Royal Scots), who shipped it home at the age of 

 two years as a present to Her Majesty the Queen 

 Empress. This young bull most unfortunately 

 died at Aden while on the voyage. So far as I 

 am aware, but one specimen of the Indian bison 

 has reached England alive, and that was a member 

 of a herd captured by a Rajah in the Straits, who 



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