SOLITARY BISON. 251 



bison. This may have happened to be a peculiarity in certain specimens, 

 and probably caused by crossing with domestic cattle ; but, even if pecu- 

 liar to the whole species in the north-east of Hindoostan, it is not a more 

 essential difference than that of male elephants in Ceylon being almost all 

 tuskless, though identical with the elephants of continental India, amongst 

 whom a tuskless male is a rarity. I venture to think that, unless the 

 comparison is made between a wild gayal and a wild bison, and some 

 distinction is then established, the very slight difference, if any, that exists 

 between them may be put down to partial domestication alone. 



I was determined to see a wild gayal for myself when in the Chittagong 

 hills, and I was fortunate enough to shoot an old solitary bull, a very good 

 specimen. The pursuit of this animal occupied me four days ; the dry- 

 ness of the ground, and the inexpertness of the trackers, made the hunt a 

 difficult one. I can state that there was not one single point of difference 

 in appearance or size between it and the bison of Southern India, except 

 that the horns were somewhat smaller than what would have been looked 

 for in a buU of its age in Southern India. 



I have enjoyed the best opportunities of observing bison in Mysore 

 when mounted on an elephant. As bison and elephants constantly feed 

 together, the presence of an elephant causes them no alarm, nor do they 

 observe the rider if he use ordinary precautions to conceal himself. Whilst 

 some of the herd are lying down peacefully chewing the cud, or affectionately 

 licking each other's ears and cheeks, others are grazing, or browsing on 

 the young shoots of bamboo. The characteristic placidity of their disposi- 

 tion is here seen to advantage ; and I have often wished for a pencil, and 

 the ability to use it, rather than the murderous rifle, that I might carry 

 away with me a representation of these scenes. I have often left the poor 

 beasts undisturbed. 



I should think it probable, judging from the cases of two or three 

 Brahmiuee bulls I have known of, which had entire liberty, the choice 

 of fields to graze in, and no work under the yoke, that bison may live to 

 about fifty years of age. 



SOLITARY BISOX. 



Unlike solitary elephants, individuals amongst which are frequently 

 young males biding their time tiU they are able to appropriate a herd, soli- 

 tary bison are always, as far as my experience goes, old bulls, and invariably 

 scarred with healed cicatrices showing the fights they have been engaged in 

 in their declining days. 



