164 HUNTING THE BUFFALO. 



and five feet, six or eight inches high at the shoulder. 

 The neck was short, the back straight and hunchless. The 

 head was short in proportion to the animal's bulk. The 

 eyes were small, and so overshadowed by the rough and 

 ponderous horns, as to give them a most ferocious expres- 

 sion. The hide was of a bluish-purple color, varied with 

 black. We surveyed the buffalo with much curiosity on 

 account of the associations of the mane, and pointed 

 out the many points of difference between it and the noble 

 bison of my own native land. The horns, tongue, and hide 

 were then secured by the rapid application of both our 

 knives ; and, then, burdened with the spoils of the chase, 

 we set out for our wagons, just as the first faint shadow 

 cf twilight fell apon the plain. 



