150 
FRANK FORESTER^ FIELD SPORTS. 
earily of great size, give great thickness to the neck, and by 
their origin from the prolonged dorsal vertebral processes, form 
the peculiar projection called the humjp. This hump is of an 
oblong form, diminishing in height as it recedes, so as to give 
considerable obliquity to the line of the back. 
“ The eye of the Bison is small, black and brilliant; the horns 
are black and very thick near the head, whence they curve up¬ 
wards and outwards, rapidly tapering towards their points. 
The outline of the face is convexly curved, and the upper lip, 
on each side being papillous within, dilates and extends down¬ 
wards, giving a very oblique appearance to the lateral gap of the 
mouth, in this particular resembling the ancient architectural 
bas-reliefs representing the heads of oxen. The physiognomy 
of the Bison is menacing and ferocious, and no one can see this 
animal in his native wilds, for the first time, without feeling in¬ 
clined to attend immediately to his personal safety. The sum¬ 
mer coat of the Bison differs from his winter dress, rather by 
difference of length than by other particulars. In summer, from 
the shoulders backwards, the hinder parts of the animal are all 
covered with a very short fine hair, that is as smooth and soft to 
the touch as velvet. The tail is quite short and tufted at the 
end, and its utility as a fly-brush is necessarily very limited. 
The color of the hair is uniformly dun, but the long hair on the 
anterior parts of the body is, to a certain extent, tinged with 
yellowish or rust color. These animals, however, present so 
little variety in regard to color, that the natives consider any 
remarkable difference from the common appearance as result¬ 
ing from the immediate interference of the Great Spirit. 
“ Some varieties of color have been observed, although the in¬ 
stances are rare. A Missouri trader informed the members of 
Long’s exploring party, that he had seen a greyish-white Bison, 
and a yearling calf, that was distinguished by several white 
spots on the side, a star or blaze in the forehead, and white fore 
feet. Mr. J. Doughty, an inteipreter to the expedition, saw in 
an Indian hut a very well prepared Bison head, with a star on 
the front. This was highly prized by the proprietor, who called 
