Horns 



period of gestation appears to be still open to dis- 

 pute. 



FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH BISON 



Well do I remember the first time I came within 

 measurable distance of seeing my first bison. It 

 was my first year in India, and I was out in the 

 fine jungles of Chota Nagpur in July risking with 

 equanimity a bad dose of malarial fever, in the 

 keenness which was prepared to face any amount 

 of discomfort in an effort to bag a bison. 



I was encamped alone in a wild part of the 

 country, some seventy miles from the station ; 

 and two days' heavy and incessant rain had kept 

 me a prisoner near the tents, my sole occupation 

 being an endeavour to induce some queer-looking 

 fish to leave their watery abode for my frying-pan. 



The third morning the usual call at 4 o'clock 

 found that the fates were propitious. It was 

 starlight and fine, and Bishu the shikari said that 

 we should get off as soon as possible. Tumbling 

 into shikar kit, and swallowing a substantial 

 chota hazari, I climbed into the saddle, for I 

 found I could ride a couple of miles or so, and we 

 set out. Our party consisted of Bishu, the head 

 shikari (one of the very best trackers I have ever 

 known), his assistant, who came near to rivaUing 

 his master, and a couple of coolies to carry the 

 luncheon-basket and cartridge-bags. 



As I rode along in the freshness of early morning 

 my spirits rose, and my hopes ran high that 



107 



