BISON AND BUFFALO. 335- 



against the attack of wolves is admirable. When they scent 

 the approach of a drove of these ravenous creatures, the herd 

 throws itself into the form of a circle, having the weakest and 

 the calves in the middle, and the strongest ranged on the outside ; 

 thus presenting an impenetrable front of horns. ^ 



The buffalo of the Old World manifests sagacity very 

 similar. As Sir J. E. Tennent informs us, — 



The temper of the wild bufialo is morose and uncertain ; and 

 such is its strength and courage, that in the Hindu epic of the 

 * Ramayana ' its onslaught is compared with that of the tiger. 

 It is never quite safe to approach them if disturbed in their 

 pasture, or alarmed from their repose in the shallow lakes. On 

 such occasions they hurry into line, draw up in defensive array, 

 with a few of the oldest bulls in advance ; and, wheeling in 

 circles, their horns clashing with a loud sound as they clank 

 them together in their rapid evolutions, they prepare for attack : 

 but generally, after a menacing display, the herd betake them- 

 selves to flight ; then forming again at a safer distance, they 

 halt as before, elevating their nostrils, and throwing back their 

 heads to take a defiant survey of the intruders. ^ 



When tamed this animal is used for sporting purposes 

 in a manner which displays the spirit of curiosity of deer, 

 hogs, and other animals. Thus, Sir J. E. Tennent con- 

 tinues : — 



A bell is attached to its neck, and a box or basket with 

 one side open is securely strapped on its back. This at night is 

 lighted with flambeaux of wax, and the bufialo bearing it is 

 slowly driven into the jungle. The huntsmen with their 

 fowling-pieces keep close under the darkened side, and as it 

 moves slowly onwards, the wild animals, startled by the sound 

 and bewildered by the light, steal cautiously towards it in 

 stupefied fascination. Even the snake, I am assured, will be 

 attracted by this extraordinary object ; and the leopard, too, falls 

 a victim to curiosity. ^ 



Livingstone says of the African buffalo, that he has 

 known the animal, when pursued by hunters, to ' turn 

 back to a point a few yards from its own trail, and then 

 lie down in a hollow for the hunter to come up,' — a fact 



^ Thompson, Passions of Animals, p. 308 

 2 ]yatural History of Ceylon^ p. 54. 

 ' Ibid., p. 56. 



