﻿152 FIELD AND FOREST. 



number of bulls j there being but two or three to the largest herd. 



As annually numbers of bulls are found dead, and they are known to 

 be extremely pugnacious, particularly during the rutting season, it is 

 safe to say, that the lords of the herds have attained their position 

 only through gage of battle and death of the vanquished. The rutting 

 season is in August ; so jealous are the males of their mistresses, at this 

 season, that they will attack man or beast that ventures too close, even 

 running and bellowing at ravens or other large birds that chance to 

 light near them. The female brings forth a single calf late in May or 

 early in June, which is supposed to follow the cow for two seasons, 

 unless as frequently occurs, it is driven away upon the advent of an- 

 other offspring. 



Except during the rutting season, this quadruped seems the least 

 watchful of all wild animals, and, when grazing, is not difficult of near 

 approach, providing the hunter go against the wind. They do not 

 seem to mind the report of a gun, merely raising the head at the sound, 

 which, if repeated, causes them to crowd closer together, disdaining to 

 separate or flee from the danger until the drove has been well dec- 

 imated. At last, when fully aroused to their clanger they gallop off; 

 then woe to the hunter that crosses their path ; little less than a mira- 

 cle can save him. If the game be seriously wounded, yet not mor- 

 tally, it becomes enraged and darts in the most furious manner upon 

 the hunters who must need exercise all their agility to avoid the on- 

 slaughts and sharp horns of his quarry. 



The Indians shoot them with arrows. Their bows are made of 

 three pieces of fir, the center piece alone being bent, while the other 

 two lie in the same straight line as the bow-string, the pieces being 

 neatly tied and whipped with sinew. They approach sufficiently near 

 by crawling, or else drive the game by ranges of turf, behind which 

 the archers are 'concealed. In this way great numbers are killed; as 

 high as four thousand weight of frozen flesh having been brought to 

 Prince of Wales Fort alone during a single season, and the smallest 

 quantity has seldom been less than half that amount. It is purchased 

 by the Hudson's Bay Company as provision for their employes. 



When in condition, the flesh of calves and cows are exceeding pala- 

 table ; but it does not in the least resemble that of beef, neither does 

 it approach the flavor of mutton ; but has been likened to that of the 

 caribou or moose but of coarser fibre. The fat is of a clear white, 



