THE AMERICAN BISON 



i8i 



The European aurochs and the American bison thus form 

 a pair of species which are separated off from all other 

 animals by certain details of their structure. Their nearest 

 ally appears to be the Asiatic animal known as the yak, 

 a beast which in a wild state inhabits Chinese Thibet. 

 The yak differs from the bison in not having a mane, but 

 it has something the appearance of a mediaeval knight's 

 caparisoned horse with flowing drapery on either side. 

 This is represented in the yak by a fringe of long hair 



Fig. 45. 



hanging down from the shoulders, Hanks, and thighs 

 nearly to the ground, while the tail bears a wonderful 

 mass of long, silky hair. Tame yaks are used as beasts 

 of burden, and they are very serviceable for travers- 

 ing the high, desolate regions of Thibet, and would 

 be much more so but for their requii-ing grass as food 

 and refusing corn. They are often crossed with domestic 

 cattle, and the white tails of such half-bred animals 

 are much valued in India, where they are known as 

 " chowries," and used as fans to drive away flies and 

 other insects. 



