374 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BISON. 



impression of a celestial harmony. I will relate the his- 

 tory of this instrument before I close my book ; but, first, 

 let us return to our bisons. 



I do not think there would be any utility in describing 

 to my readers the form, and size, and habits of this genus 

 of the bovine race. Buffon, and above all, Audubon, have 

 traced with a master's hand a complete picture of its 

 characteristics. 



I shall limit myself, therefore, to a record of the promi- 

 nent features and peculiarities which ought to be known 

 to every hunter. No other animated creature is so tena-. 

 cious of life as the bison ; unless he be hit through the 

 lungs, or his spinal bone should be broken, he almost 

 invariably escapes the hunter's pursuit. Very often, even 

 when mortally wounded in the heart, the animal possesses 

 sufficient vital force to continue his flight for a consider- 

 able distance ; and he always makes this supreme effort if 

 he sees the hunter following up his track. 



If, on the contrary, the hunter halts, and conceals him- 

 self from the sight of the game, the latter ceases to run, 

 and soon falls down never to rise again. Horrible, indeed, 

 are the last convulsions of a dying bison ; the noble beast 

 appears to understand that he ought not to touch the 

 ground, for that if he does all hope is lost. One of these 

 bisons, wounded in the lungs or heart, spouting blood 

 through mouth and nostrils, his eyes already dim with 

 the shadows of agony, sets wide his legs the better to 

 support his tottering bulk ; even to his last breath he 

 resists the inevitable death, and defies it courageously, 

 making the air resound with terrible roars. He makes a 

 final effort to hold himself erect ; his body rolls to and,. 



