THE GAUR 58 



being so deep that one can often put one's 

 finger between them. This corrugation, or ridg- 

 ing, of the horn extends from the skull to a 

 distance of from 6 in. to 1 ft. along the horn. 

 Thence onward the horn is smooth, the tips being 

 frequently chipped from fighting, and butting 

 down saplings. The ears of an old bull are 

 invariably torn from fighting. The horns them- 

 selves are very handsome, being flat towards the 

 base, and curving outwards, the tips turning 

 inwards and slightly backwards. In colour they 

 are a greenish yellow, the tips being black. In 

 young bulls the horns, besides being shorter, are 

 far less massive, seldom taping more than 15 in. 

 in girth, while they lack the indentations which 

 constitute the chief beauty of a bison's head. 

 Consequently, no one cares to shoot a young 

 bull, even though fully grown, as his head is 

 only fit to throw away. Bison have been shot 

 with horns measuring close on 40 in., but one 

 may shoot fifty bison before finding a head 

 with horns approaching this length. Cows have 

 wretched little horns, about 20 in. in length, 

 with no girth to speak of. It is supposed that 

 solitary bulls always possess the finest heads, 

 but this is undoubtedly not always the case. 

 I have a theory with regard to this which I 

 will take leave to air presently. 



Except when breeding, bison are very peace- 

 able animals, and one may see bulls of all 



