MAMMALIA—YAK...GAUR...GAYAL. 387 
this is effected, the Indians raise loud shouts, and pressing closely on the 
animals, terrify them so much, that they rush heedlessly forwards towards 
the snare. When they have advanced as far as the men who are lying in 
ambush, they also show themselves, mcreasing the consternation of the 
bisons by shouting violently and firing their guns. The affrighted animals 
have no alternative but to rush directly into the pound, where they are 
quickly dispatched by guns or arrows. In the centre of one of these 
pounds, there was a tree on which the Indians had hung stripes of bison 
flesh, and pieces of cloth, as tributary or grateful offerings to the Great 
Master of life. They occasionally place a man in the tree to sing to the 
presiding spirit, as the bisons advance. He is obliged to remain there untu 
all the animals that have entered the pound are killed. 
The bison is about eight feet in length. The head, shoulders, and upper 
part of the anterior extremities, are covered with a long, brownish, woolly 
hair. The tail is tufted with black. The horns are black, and turned 
laterally and upwards. 
Poe y aw. 
Tus animal has some resemblance to a buffalo in the shape of his head. 
His size is various; and the tail of one in the British Museum, is six feet 
long. The color is generally black, but many have white tails. They are 
fond of mountainous countries, and keep on the southern declivities in 
winter, and the northern in summer.: The species is both wild and domes- 
ticated. The wild yaks abound in the mountains of Boote_ and Thibet. 
THE GAUR?2 
1s a species of bison, which appears to be one of the largest now living. It 
is six feet high at the shoulders, and twelve feet long. Its head resembles 
that of the common ox. Its most remarkable characteristic is a spinous 
elevated process, on the neck and shoulders. They live in families of ten 
or twenty. They are found in India. 
TAB GAY A T,3 
Is nearly the shape and size of a common bull. It has a sharp ridge over 
the shoulders. The general color is brown, and the tail is tufted. It 
inhabits the forests east of the Burrampooter. 
—_ 
1 Bos g-unniens, Lin. 2 Bos gauras, SMITH. 3 Bos gaveus, SMITH. 
