422 Prof. Nilsson on the extinct and existing 



grown forests. In winter they rarely leave the pine forests; 

 they lie still during the day, and at night go out in search of 

 food. They seldom seek water, sometimes not for a whole day ; 

 rarely they approach the small forest-rivulets, but usually drink 

 out of the small puddles in the forest. If pursued, they can 

 swim easily. They live to the age of ten to twelve years in small 

 herds of twenty to forty ; the old ones separate themselves from 

 the herd and live apart. During the rutting time they again 

 join the herd, and live with them all through the month of 

 August. 



The Bison is more timid than bold ; it is frightened at bright 

 colours, particularly red, and will run away from it. Only when 

 provoked will it attack man ; though not always the assailant who 

 has irritated him, but him who happens to be nearest. Its pace is 

 not lasting ; it cannot run more than from half to one verst (900 

 to 1800 ells) without being so tired that it must rest. The further 

 it is chased, the oftener it stops and stretches out its blue 

 tongue to get breath. Three wolves can kill him. 



The scent of the Bison is extremely acute, and they scent a 

 man at a considerable distance. Far off, their stamping and 

 roaring may be heard, as they stand in the thick wood-land, and 

 as soon as they perceive any danger they flee into the forest with 

 a tremendous rush, throwing down or breaking numbers of trees 

 that stand in their way as they pass them. They run with de- 

 pressed head and tail raised. During the rutting time they are 

 very much given to frolic ; thus they drive one of their horns 

 into the ground, and in that position run round a young tree 

 till it becomes loose and falls on their heads. In this manner 

 they will uproot trees of 4-6 inches in diameter ; and as they 

 generally get their horns entangled in the roots, they run about 

 with this " nuptial wreath " on their heads, and thereby make a 

 great rattling and rustling in the forests. Where they have re- 

 mained for any time, they leave behind them a smell something 

 between violets and musk. 



Their rutting time is in August, and lasts two or three weeks ; 

 during this period violent conflicts take place between the bulls, 

 and they often wound each other mortally*. Their offspring are 

 but few, for among forty full-grown animals one sees not more 

 than four or six of a year old. A natural enmity exists between 

 them and common cattle, and never will a Bison pair with a tame 

 cow. He runs away from her, or kills her with his horns. He 

 cannot bear her presence, while her exhalation is most repugnant 



* The fossil skeleton of the Bison, which is found in our museum here, 

 shows that the animal during its lifetime had many ribs broken, probably 

 by being pierced with horns, but which by means of the callus had again 

 healed. 



