THE BUFFALO. 127 



covers himself in a wolf's skin, another with a buffalo skin. 

 They then crawl on all fours within sight of the buffaloes, 

 and as soon as they have engaged their attention, the pre- 

 tended wolf jumps on the pretended calf, which bellows in 

 imitation of the real one. The buffaloes are easily deceived 

 in this way, as the bellowing is generally perfect, and the 

 herd rush on to the protection of their supposed young, with 

 such impetuosity that they do not perceive the cheat till they 

 are quite close enough to be shot. 



On one occasion Mr. Kane and his Indian companion fell in 

 with a solitary bull and cow. On this they made a " calf," as 

 the ruse is called. The cow attempted to spring towards 

 them, but the bull, seeming to understand the trick, tried to 

 stop her by running between them. The cow now dodged 

 and got round him, and ran within ten or fifteen yards of 

 the hunters, with the bull close at her heels, when both men 

 fired, and brought her down. The bull instantly stopped 

 short, and, bending over her, tried to help her up with his 

 nose — evincing the most persevering affection for her ; nor 

 could they get rid of him, so as to cut up the cow, without 

 shooting him also, although at that time of the year bull 

 flesh is not valued as food when the female can be obtained. 

 This, and another example which has been given, show that 

 these animals are capable of great affection for each other. 



The Indians also occasionally approach a herd from leeward, 

 crawling along the ground so as to look like huge snakes 

 winding their way amid the snow or grass, and can thus get 

 sufficiently near to shoot these usually wary animals. 



