76 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
15^ to 16 hands at the shoulder, but this gives an 
erroneous idea of the proportions of the animal, as 
the shoulder is abnormally high, and from the withers, 
the back, instead of being straight, slopes towards 
the hind-quarters. These are disproportioned to 
the massive front of the animal, as they are very 
inferior to the fore-quarters. The tail is shorter 
than in any of the bovine tribe. The hoofs are 
small in proportion to the great size of the animal. 
The ponderous strength of this animal is exhibited 
in the head, neck, and fore - quarters; these are 
enormous. A shaggy mass of nearly black hair 
covers the head and almost conceals the eyes : this 
mane-like covering descends, and terminates in a 
long beard, which reaches to the knees. The horns, 
like all the bisons, are short and curved. In the 
winter months the coat is thickly furred with 
exceedingly close and curly hair, almost resembling 
a fine brown wool. The skins at that season are 
valuable as “buffalo robes,” and have for a long 
time been in great request, but owing to the 
diminution in numbers of the animals, they are 
becoming exceedingly scarce. 
Although the bison has a ferocious aspect, it is 
a perfectly harmless creature, and, unlike the buffalo 
of Africa and India, it would never offend unless 
previously attacked. Even then, it will escape if 
possible, but is furious when brought to bay. 
The annual slaughter of these fine animals by the 
Indian tribes has been well described by Cattlin. 
These hunts took place at the commencement of 
