54 BIG-GAME SHOOTING IN UPPER BURMA 



sizes and ages together with cows feeding in 

 perfect amity. As a rule, herds do not mix ; 

 but on one occasion the writer saw over a 

 hundred bison on a plain or ' Quin,' near Homalin 

 on the Upper Chindwin, feeding greedily on the 

 young grass. They were all together, head- 

 ing in one direction as they fed along. This 

 could not possibly have been one herd, which 

 ordinarily numbers from ten to twenty animals. 

 I imagine that several herds, tempted by the 

 succulent grass, had met and joined in one 

 huge body for the time being, doubtless to 

 separate again on returning to the hills. This 

 plain used to be, and still may be, a sure 

 find for bison in May. After feeding for many 

 months on the rank herbage of the hills, it can 

 be imagined how eagerly they rioted on the 

 young, sweet grass sprouting up after the annual 

 fires. Nothing would keep them away. If a 

 herd were fired at one day, another herd would 

 be found close by the next. Indeed, one for- 

 tunate sportsman secured two heads the same 

 evening on this plain. I never had the luck 

 to do this; but on three successive evenings I 

 bagged three bulls — two from small herds and 

 the last from the huge conclave of bison already 

 alluded to. I then left them in peace; but 

 doubtless, had I again visited the plain after 

 two or three days, bison would have been found 

 there. This plain extended for a good many 



