BUFFALO AND MUSK OX 
gets beaten. In time, however, the old bull’s strength decreases as that of 
the younger rival improves, then a great battle takes place and the master 
is turned out for good. In the case of deer, the master stag enjoys a longer 
innings and may control the females within a given area for half a life- 
time; and after closely studying red deer for many years I am inclined 
to think that the only time that he fights to desperation is when his position 
as king is seriously assailed. I have known a very powerful stag hold nearly 
the whole of the hinds in a large park for ten years. This, however, is 
exceptional. In a small herd the buffalo bull has a short reign, perhaps 
for two or three years, and in former times the many solitary bulls seen 
on the plains were usually old outcasts. These old fellows were seldom 
molested by man, though when age came upon them they usually fell 
victims to the hands of grey wolves when the latter were hard pressed 
for food. 
Catlin describes several of these battles and says (“ North American 
Indians,” Vol. I, pp. 257-8): 
“ But a short time since, as one of my hunting companions and 
myself were returning to our encampment with our horses loaded 
with meat, we discovered, at a distance, a huge bull encircled with 
a gang of white wolves. We rode up as near as we could without driving 
them away, and, being within pistol shot, we had a remarkably good 
view, where I sat for a few moments and made a sketch in my notebook, 
after which we rode up and gave the signal for them to disperse, 
which they instantly did, withdrawing themselves to a distance of 
fifty or sixty rods, when we found, to our great surprise, that the 
animal had made desperate resistance until his eyes were entirely 
eaten out of his head, the grizzle of his nose was mostly gone, his 
tongue was half eaten off, and the skin and flesh of his legs torn almost 
literally into strings. In this tattered and torn condition the poor old 
veteran stood bracing up in the midst of his devourers, who had ceased 
hostilities for a few minutes, to enjoy a sort of parley, recovering 
strength and preparing to resume the attack in a few moments again. 
In this group some were reclining to gain breath, whilst others were 
sneaking about and licking their chops in anxiety for a renewal of 
the attack; and others, less lucky, had been crushed to death by the 
feet or the horns of the bull. I rode nearer to the pitiable object as he 
stood bleeding and trembling before me, and said to him, ‘ Now is 
your time, old fellow, and you had better be off.’ Though blind and 
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