632 THE YAK. 



little bows, will often give a better account of their day's sport than many a white 

 hunter armed with the best firelock. 



At certain seasons of the year, the whole Bison population becomes greatly excited 

 about settling their matrimonial matters for the next twelvemonth, and dire are the 

 quarrels among the bulls for favor in the eyes of their intended mates. Whole herds 

 of these animals will run in a straight line for many miles, urged forward by some 

 strange impulse, and being easily tracked, not only by the marks of their feet, which 

 tear up the ground as if it had been ploughed, but by a succession of bull Bisons 

 engaged in single combat, they having fallen out on the journey and halted to fight 

 out their quarrel. A cloud of wolves always hangs about the skirts of these herds, 

 as the cunning animals are well aware of the dangers that beset the infuriated wars of 

 Bisons, and accompany them in hopes of pouncing upon some feeble or wounded 

 straggler. 



The Bison is remarkably fond of wallowing in the mud, and when he cannot find a 

 mud-hole ready excavated, sets busily to work to make one for himself. Choosing some 

 wet and marshy spot, he flings himself down on his side, and whirls round and round 

 until he wears away the soil, and forms a circular and rather shallow pit, into which 

 the water rapidly drains from the surrounding earth. He now redoubles his efforts, 

 and in a very short time succeeds in covering himself with a thick coating of mud, which 

 is probably of very great service in defending him from the stings of the gnats and 

 other noxious insects which swarm in such localities. 



In the summer, the Bison fares luxuriously, living on the sweet green herbage that 

 always springs up after the prairie has been swept by the fires that are continually 

 blazing in one part or another. In winter, however, it is often pinched with hunger as 

 well as with cold, and would fare very badly, did it not instinctively employ its broad 

 nose in shovelling away the snow and laying bare the grass that lies unhurt beneath 

 the white covering. The nose of the Bison is admirably adapted for this purpose, being 

 broad, strong, and tough, so that it can execute work with ease which is most painful to 

 ordinary cattle, and causes their noses to bleed sadly, from the unaccustomed friction. 

 So severe, however, is the labor, that even old Bisons are often seen with their noses 

 excoriated and bleeding from the effects of their toil. Mr. Palliser mentions that the 

 common domesticated calves have been observed to hang about a Bison bull when he 

 was engaged in shovelling away the snow, and to eat the herbage which he disclosed, 

 without showing the least fear. 



The Bison is a marvellously active animal, and displays powers of running and 

 activity which would hardly be anticipated by one who had merely seen a stuffed speci- 

 men. The body is so loaded with hair that it appears to be of greater dimensions than 

 is really the case, and seems out of all proportion to the slender legs that appear from 

 under it and seem to bend beneath its weight. Yet the Bison is an enduring as well 

 as a swift animal, and is also remarkably sure of foot, going at full speed over localities 

 where a horse would be soon brought to a halt. 



i 



The YAK, or GRUNTING Ox, derives its name from its very peculiar voice, which 

 sounds much like the grunt of a pig. It is a native of the mountains of Thibet, and 

 according to Hodson, it inhabits all the loftiest plateaus of High Asia, between the 

 Altai and the Himalayas. 



It is capable of domestication, and is liable to extensive permanent varieties, which 

 have probably been occasioned by the climate in which it lives and the work to which 

 it has been put. The Noble Yak, for example, is a large, handsome animal, holding its 

 head proudly erect, having a large hump, extremely long hair, and a very bushy tail. It 

 is a shy and withal capricious animal, too much disposed to kick with the hind feet and 

 to make threatening demonstrations with the horns, as if it intended to impale the 

 rider. The heavy fringes of hair that decorate the sides of the Yak do not make their 

 appearance until the animal has attained three months of age, the calves being covered 

 with rough curling hair, not unlike that of a black Newfoundland dog. The beautiful 

 white bushy tail of the Yak is in great request for various ornamental purposes, and 

 forms quite an important article of commerce. Dyed red, it is formed into those curious 



