THE AMERICAN BISON. 
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and treacherous-looking animal ; and all those which 
we have seen exhibited under the title of Bonassus, 
had a most disgusting and sinister look. The head 
and fore quarter is large, appearing more so by 
the thick coating of long shaggy hair, covering the 
head and nape, and almost obscuring the small hlood- 
shot-looking eye. The horns are small, tapering, and 
acute, set far apart, and nearly straight. 
The colour of the animal is a liver or umber- 
brown, and its height at the shoulder is upwards of 
six feet. Twelve or fourteen hundred weight is a 
common weight in the fur countries ; but they some- 
times reach a weight of 2000 Ih. The hump is a 
mass of fat of various size, according to circum- 
stances, and is much esteemed hy epicures. The 
flesh is juicy and well-flavoured. The skin, from 
the fine wool, makes an excellent blanket when 
dressed, and sells in Canada for £3 or £4; and the 
wool has in this country been manufactured into a 
fine cloth. Pemmican is made of the flesh and fat 
of the American Buffalo. 
“ The Bison wanders constantly from place to 
place, either from being disturbed by hunters, or in 
quest of food. They are much attracted by the soft 
tender grass, which springs up after a fire has spread 
over the prairie. In winter, they scrape away the 
snow with their feet, to reach the grass. The bulls 
and cows live in separate herds for the greater part of 
the year ; but at all seasons one or two old bulls ge- 
nerally accompany a large herd of cows. In the 
