GO PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



mistaken for them ; but, on closer inspection, the delusion 

 can not continue, for their outline of form, sheep-like move- 

 ment and figure, at once correct the error. In height they 

 stand from eleven and a half to twelve and a half hands, the 

 males being the largest and most cumbersome in appear- 

 ance. Their legs are excessively short, and gifted with 

 great muscular power, while the track of their hoof is about 

 the size of a two-year-old steer's, but straighter and less 

 pointed. The head is ornamented with handsome horns 

 which almost unite at the base, and taper off with graceful, 

 handsome sweeps to sharp points, which are generally with 

 the mature animal on a level with the eyes. The nose is 

 covered with soft, downy hair, and the eye, which is large 

 and full, gives the physiognomy an intelligent look, which 

 would induce the belief that no great difficulty would occur 

 to prevent their domestication. If such could be effected, 

 great benefit might result from the introduction of their 

 wool into our markets, as, from its length, elasticity, and 

 fineness, it could be manufactured into the most superior 

 class of cloths. 



Their rutting season occurs at the breaking up of the 

 autumn, when the cold and fitful winds of October com- 

 mence to warn us that warmth is gone, and snow and ice 

 are coming. The male, who generally is very inoffensive, 

 unless he chance to receive a wound incapacitating him 

 from escape, becomes now most quarrelsome and vindictive, 

 attacking with the greatest fury whatever provokes his dis- 

 pleasure ; and woe be to the white man or Indian who then 

 meets him, if away from a place of escape or unprovided 

 with fire-arms. At this time furious engagements take 

 place among the males, which sometimes continue till one 

 or both of the contestants are so much exhausted that they 

 fall an easy prey to the Indian's arrows or the tusks of the 

 large northern gray wolf. 



