THE BISONS. & 



ones. By degrees he approaches nearer and nearer, until at length the sight of him has become so 

 familiar that he can advance to stroke his tame Gayals on the back and neck without frightening the 

 wild ones. He next extends his hand to them, and caresses them also, at the same time giving them 

 plenty of his decoy balls to lick. Thus, in the short space of time mentioned, he is able to drive them, 

 along with the tame ones, to his parrah, or village, without the least exertion of force ; and so attached 

 do the Gayals become to the parrah, that when the Kookies migrate from one place to another, they 

 always find it necessary to set fire to the huts they are about to abandon, lest the Gayals should return 

 to them from the new grounds." 



The Gayal cai-ries its nose forwards, as a rule, like a Buffalo. Its ears are longer than those of 

 the Ox. It possesses a dewlap smaller than in the Zebu. The tail is short, not descending below the 

 hock. Its general colour is a varying and generally dark brown, the abdomen and the legs being white 

 in parts. Its cry is a shrill, insignificant lowing. Its horns are conical, turned directly outwards, and 

 a little upwards at their tips, not exceeding one foot and a half in length. 



The Banting extends from Cochin China, through the Indo-Malay archipelago, to the islands of 

 Bali and Lombok. Its colour and proportions are almost exactly those of the Gour. 



THE BISONS.* 



Closely related to the Oxen are the Bisons of Europe and of North America, together with the 

 Tibetan Yak. The two species of Bison agree closely with one another in general appearance, the 

 American form being shorter and weaker in the hind-quarters, and a little smaller altogether. 



The hair of the head and neck is very abundant and long, forming a mane of very dark colour, 

 at the same time that it nearly conceals the eyes and ears as well as the base of the short conical horns, 

 which are directed outwards and upwards. Under the chin there is a lengthy beard. A line of 

 lengthy hair also extends along the back nearly to the tail, which is itself only covered with short soft 

 hair, except at the end where there is a lengthy tuft. There is a hump developed on the shoulders, at 

 which spot the adult male is nearly six feet in height, the female being smaller. 



The European Bison, or Aurochs, is on the verge of extinction, surviving only in the forests of 

 Lithuania, Moldavia, Wallachia, and the Caucasus, on account of the severe laws against its destruc- 

 tion. The horns are longer and more curved than in the American species. The females are less 

 hairy and smaller than their mates. Its strength is very great, and an old bull is said to be a 

 match for at least four Wolves. Its speed is considerable, and it raises its hoofs above the level 

 of its lowered head whilst galloping. 



In his description of the Black Forest (Sylva H&rcynici) Caesar describes the species (the Urus) 

 thus : " They are but little less than Elephants in size, and are of the appearance, colour, and 

 form of a Bull. Their strength as well as their speed is very great. They spare neither man 

 nor beast that they see. They cannot be brought to endure the sight of men, nor can they be 

 tamed, even when taken young. The people, who take them in pitfalls, assiduously destroy them ; and 

 young men harden themselves in this labour, and exercise themselves in this kind of chase ; and those 

 who have killed a great number, the horns being publicly exhibited in evidence of the fact, 

 obtain great honour. The horns, in magnitude, shape, and quality, differ much from the horns 

 of our Oxen. They are much sought for, and after having been edged with silver at their open ends, 

 are used for drinking vessels at great feasts." 



According to some authorities, however, it is a mistake to identify the European Bison with the 

 Aurochs. 



To all intents and purposes the American Bison is an extinct animal, killed off by the rifle and 

 the rail and the encroachment of man upon its haunts. A *few specimens are preserved witli what 

 may be described as laudably jealous care in the Yellowstone Park, and small herds may be found in 

 Montana, Texas, and Canada. 



Huge herds, numbering millions of individuals, "so numerous as to blacken the plains as far as 

 they can reach," were once a common sight 011 the prairies, and repeatedly stopped the Kansas Pacific 

 Railway when first formed. Hunters spread false notions as to the organisation of these herds, 



* The ceaus Bison. 



