BISON AND BUFFALO. 
335 
against the attack of wolves is admirable. When they scent 
the approach of a drove of these ravenous creatures, the herd 
throws itself into the form of a circle, having the weakest and. 
the calves in the middle, and the strongest ranged on the outside ; 
thus presenting an impenetrable front of horns . 1 
The buffalo of the Old World manifests sagacity very 
similar. As Sir J. E. Tennent informs us, — 
The temper of the wild buffalo is morose and uncertain ; and 
such is its strength and courage, that in the Hindu epic of the 
6 Ham ay ana ’ its onslaught is compared with that of the tiger. 
It is never quite safe to approach them if disturbed in their 
pasture, or alarmed from their repose in the shallow lakes. On 
such occasions they hurry into line, draw up in defensive array, 
with a few of the oldest bulls in advance ; and, wheeling in 
circles, their horns clashing with a loud sound as they clank 
them together in their rapid evolutions, they prepare for attack 
but generally, after a menacing display, the herd betake them 
selves to flight ; then forming again at a safer distance, the) 
halt as before, elevating their nostrils, and throwing back theii 
heads to take a defiant survey of the intruders . 2 
When tamed this animal is used for sporting purposes 
in a manner which displays the spirit of curiosity of deer, 
hogs, and other animals. Thus, Sir J. E. Tennent con- 
tinues : — 
A bell is attached to its neck, and a box or basket with 
one side open is securely strapped on its back. This at night is 
lighted with flambeaux of wax, and the buffalo bearing it is 
slowly driven into the jungle. The huntsmen with theii 
fowling-pieces keep close under the darkened side, and as it 
moves slowly onwards, the wild animals, startled by the sound 
and bewildered by the light, steal cautiously towards it in 
stupefied fascination. Even the snake, I am assured, will be 
attracted by this extraordinary object ; and the leopard, too, falls 
a victim to curiosity . 3 
Livingstone says of the African buffalo, that he has 
known the animal, when pursued by hunters, to 6 turn 
back to a point a few yards from its own trail, and then 
lie down in a hollow for the hunter to come up, 5 — a fact 
1 Thompson, Passions of Animals, p. 308. 
2 Natural History of Ceylon , p. 54. 
9 Ibid., p. 56. 
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