1 86 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



were following- the route taken by the winged pilots. These, 

 which are known in portions of the West as " buffalo birds," 

 are of a dark-brown colour, and are really blackbirds. Flocks 

 of them are nearly always found with the animals that have 

 given them their name, and the two seem to get along well 

 together, judging from the fact that the former may be seen 

 perched on the backs of the latter and pecking away at the 

 hide in the most familiar manner. 



After riding about a mile we saw a group of what we sup- 

 posed to be our quarry a short distance away, and carefully 

 approached it, but on getting within range found we had been 

 stalking fleshless skulls that must have lain there two or three 

 years at least. This proving a severe disappointment, we 

 moved onward in silence. A short distance beyond this spot 

 we saw two splendid herds coming from water, and as they 

 were advancing in our direction we decided to await their 

 approach. The usual impatience of delay was appeased, how- 

 ever, by watching the animals gamboling about in the most 

 playful manner, and noting the mock contests of the unwieldy 

 bulls. These would rush at each other as if about to engage in a 

 deadly strife, but after one or two pushes they would break away 

 and frisk about in the liveliest manner, as if they felt extremely 

 happy. Others were rooting up the ground and scattering it 

 about with their horns, and not a few were trying the quality 

 of their voice in low, deep tones, which, if gruff, were not 

 unmusical. The scene was full of life and interest, and we 

 were enjo}-ing it very much when the animals altered their 

 antics by a sudden stampede, and went thundering to the 

 windward. We were disappointed before ; we were disgusted 

 now, and our disgust was increased by seeing the " Teutonic 

 Indians "of the previous evening rushing after them pell-mell, 

 and, though far in the rear, keep firing at them with rifles 

 aimed from the nose. The bullets could not reach half the 

 intervening distance, yet they kept up the firing until they 

 sunk from our sight behind a bluff. The imprecations 

 hurled at such sportsmen by our party was a caution, and 

 one went so far as to suggest that they should be pursued 

 and shot at as nuisances run wild. The suirirestion was not 



