ANIMALS. 54J 



THE BUFFALO. 



If we should compare the shape of our common cow with 

 that of the bison, the difference will appear very grea^ The 

 shaggy mane of the latter, the beard, the curled forehead, the 

 inverted horns, the broad breast, and the narrow hinder parts, 

 give it the appearance rather of a lion than a cow ; and fit it 

 more for a state of war with mankind than a state of servitude. 

 Yet notwithstanding these appearances, both animals are found 

 to be the same ; or at least so nearly allied that they breed 

 among each other, and propagate a race that continues the kind.* 



hair : the legs are generally white, and the hair spreads forward under the 

 heels, so as to cover the greater part of the frog. 



These animals live in herds of thirty or forty ; the bulls are few in propor- 

 tion to the cows, caused as it appears by the mortal conflicts among them fot 

 the possession of the females ; for it is observed that dead males are often 

 found, and that in the rutting season the bulls are so jealous, that they run 

 bellowing at every animal, even ravens, to drive them off. They rut in 

 August, and the females calve about the end of May, never bearing more 

 than one ; they prefer mountains and barren grounds, to wooded countries, 

 climb rocks with agility and secure footing ; they feed principally ou grass, 

 when in season, but mostly on mosses, the tops of pine shoots, and willows. 

 The flesh is flavoured like that of the elk; the fat clear white with a tint of 

 azure ; but the calves and heifers are the best for the table, the meat of old 

 bulls being so impregnated with amusky smell, as to be very disagreeable food. 

 The genitals of the male are always lubricated with a musky unctuous secre- 

 tion, which is so powerful as to retain its smell for several years ; the dung 

 is in small round kobs like that of the varying hare : several thousai/d weight 

 of the flesh are usually brought frozen by the Indians for winter store, to 

 Prince of Wales Fort. Captain Parry met this species as far north as Mel. 

 ville Island, with the first appearance of the spring ; each carcass furnish- 

 ing him with from three hundred to three hundred and fifty pounds of beef. 

 It descends as far south and west as the Province of Guivira according to 

 Lopez Gomara, where the Spaniards found sheep as large as a horse, with 

 long liair, short tails, and enormous horns. Messrs Hearne, Dobbs, and 

 Graham, have supplied the fullest information relative to this animal, which 

 was first described by Mr Pennant.though noticed long before by Mr Jeremie, 

 a French officer, who was stationed in Canada, during the succession war. 



• Buttaloes in general are animals of a large stature, resembling a bull 

 low in proportion to their bulk, and supported by strong and solid.limbs. The 

 head is large, the forehead, though narrow, is remarkably strong and convex : 

 the chaflVon straight, flat, prolonged, and terminated by a broad muzxle ; the 

 horns being flnt or bending laterally, with a certain direction to the rear, 

 and therefore not very applicable in goring ; the ears are rather large, never 

 erect, funnel-shaped; the eyes large ; they have no hunch on the back, but 

 u, small dewlap ou th* breast. The females bear an udder with four mamma), 

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