METHODS OF DEFENCE. 73 



underfoot or disembowelled. In the immense prairies 

 where these ruminants feed, a few Indians covered by 

 bisons' skins advance on all fours, so that nothing 

 betrays their presence. The victims fall one by one 

 beneath silent blows, and their companions, who can 

 see nothing suspicious in the neighbourhood, are not 

 disturbed, supposing them, no doubt, to be peace- 

 fully resting. 



It is not only against other animals that these great 

 mammals have to defend themselves; they are much 

 afraid of heat, and they are accustomed, especially in 

 the south of Persia, to ruminate while lying in the 

 water during the hot hours of the day. They only 

 allow the end of the snout, or at most the head, to 

 appear. It is a curious spectacle when fording a 

 river to see emerge from the reeds the great heads 

 and calm eyes of the Buffaloes, who follow with 

 astonishment all the movements of the horsemen, 

 although nothing will disturb their sweet and fresh 

 siesta. 



But let us return to defences arranged in common. 

 Horses are extremely sociable, and in the immense 

 pampas of South America those who become wild 

 again live in large troops. In difficult circumstances 

 they help one another. If a great danger threatens 

 them all the colts and mares assemble together, and 

 the stallions form a circle round the group, ready to 

 drive back the assailant. But they do not accomplish 

 this manceuvre in the presence of an enemy of small 

 importance. When a wolf appears on the plain all 

 the males run after him, seeking to strike him with 

 their feet and kill him, unless prompt flight delivers 

 him from their blows. 



The sociable humour of these horses makes them 



