OXEN. 197 



presented by his condition at this time to that during the summer must be seen to 

 be fully appreciated. The height attained by the bull bison has been already 

 mentioned. In regard to weight, Mr. Hornaday states that an adult bull shot by his 

 party scaled 1727 Ibs., but as the animal was by no means fat it is probable that 

 this weight is in some cases exceeded. 



It was during the breeding-season that the small bands which had been 

 previously distributed over a wide area of country collected in the huge herds 

 above alluded to ; and at such seasons the bulls were occupied either in chasing 

 the cows or in combats among themselves. The concerted roaring of the 

 bulls at these times is described as resembling thunder, and audible at distances 

 of from one to three miles, or even, exceptionally, at five miles. At the conclusion 

 of the breeding-season the herd again broke up into small bands. In these 

 periodical journeys across the country in search of water regular tracks were 

 formed by the bison, and as the water was approached several tracks united, 

 with the result that in some places tracks of about twelve inches in width, and 

 from six to seven in depth, may be seen following the level of the valleys ; the bison 

 in these journeys having always marched in single file. These old bison-tracks still 

 remain as a memento of a vanished race, and are now used by the domestic cattle 

 which have supplanted the monarchs of the prairie. After reaching the watering- 

 place, the herd, instead of returning to its original feeding-ground, would wander 

 right and left in search of fresh pastures. When undisturbed in good pasture, 

 bison were always in the habit of lying down for a few hours during the middle 

 of the day ; and they were at certain seasons fond of rolling either in dust or mud. 

 In districts where salt lakes occurred, the bison would resort to them in great 

 numbers. All the great herds were in the habit of moving southwards for a 

 distance of from two hundred to four hundred miles with the approach of winter ; 

 and during such journeys it frequently happened that numbers were lost in crossing 

 quicksands, alkali-bogs, muddy fords, or on treacherous ice. It is stated that in 

 1867 upwards of two thousand bison out of a herd of four thousand were lost 

 in a quicksand ; and that an entire herd of about one hundred head perished 

 when crossing the ice on a lake in Minnesota. 



Bison would boldly face the cutting blizzards of the north-west, instead of 

 turning tail to them after the manner of domestic cattle ; although they would at 

 the same time seek such shelter as might be obtainable by retiring to the ravines 

 and valleys. In heavy falls of snow, which lay long on the ground, the bison were 

 often compelled to fast for clays, or even weeks, together ; but they suffered most 

 when the surface of the snow was covered with a thin crust of ice after a slight 

 thaw, as their ponderous weight would drive their feet deep into the snow, and 

 leave them at the mercy of the Indians, by whom they were slain by hundreds 

 when thus helpless. 



Space does not admit of anything more than bare mention of a 

 few of the modes in which the bison was hunted. The method of 

 stalking, or " still-hunting," where the hunter creeps up to a herd and shoots one 

 after another of its members, appears to be one of the most deadly, owing to the 

 crass stupidity of the animals themselves. The plan adopted was first to shoot the 

 leader, when the remainder of the herd would come and stupidly smell round the 



