13 
THE BISON. 
the bison carries its head, holding it low and 
outstretched in the manner of some other 
fierce and vicious quadrupeds. The eye is 
quite round and moveable, and on the slightest 
excitement assumes an enlarged and inflamed 
appearance. From the shoulders and thighs 
of the fore limbs, from under the jaw and 
throat, and from the head generally, with the 
exception of the snout of the male animal, 
fiangs an immense quantity of long mixed hair 
and wool, measuring in winter more than a 
fioot in length. The internal or woolly por- 
tion of this coat is of a grayish white ; the 
external of a dirty brown, deepening on the 
throat, breast, and beard, as it may be called, 
'''here it is most abundant. The lower ex- 
tremities, back, flanks, and croup, are clothed 
''^ith shorter hair, but of a deeper tint. The 
iegs are slender in proportion to the bulk of 
the carcase, but muscular and short. _ 
The bison is extremely wild and fierce, and 
