42 THE BISON. 



buffalo would be when thoroughly aroused, or enraged 

 by a slight wound. 



When the bull has chosen a mate from the herd of 

 cows, he generally remains with her till she is about 

 to drop her calf. These calves generally fall in April 

 and May, sometimes earlier. The females usually retire 

 from the herd singly, or several in company, to some 

 remote spot, away from the usual haunts of wolves 

 and bears, and there produce their young — seldom 

 more than one at a birth. These young generally 

 follow the mother till shortly before she is ready to 

 drop another calf. If it should happen that they are 

 attacked by wolves, the old ones charge the enemy in 

 a most determined manner, frequently succeeding in 

 driving him away altogether. This is more frequently 

 the case when several cows are together, for sometimes 

 the wolf is able to secure the calf when protected only 

 by its mother. The buffalo seldom breeds till three 

 years old, but continues to propagate its species till 

 it reaches a great acje. Thoug^h the cows and bulls 

 herd separately during a considerable portion of the 

 year, a large herd of females is generally accompanied 

 by one or two bulls. 



Many a man of rank and fortune has left this 

 country for the express purpose of pursuiog this 

 mighty game upon the vast plains where Nature 

 appears in all her glory and majesty; and to those 

 who for a time would foro^et the artificial life of the 



