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Stampede on the Prairie

BSERVING the way rivals in appearance the similar Bison, we see that adornment in the lion himself. Along huge develop the back the hair of the head and ment of the head, shoulders is continued in a shaggy line shoulders and which forms a prominent back ridge. front extremities, The comparatively short tail ends in a which gives it a distinct tuft. The great size of the most majestic shoulders and first part of the body is appearance. The increased by the fact that the shoulders hair of head, neck are humped. and shoulders The male Bison is much larger than grows thick and the female, and when a male of average abundant, and size is measured from the shoulders forms a great shaggy mane, that in its downwards, the height may be found to (25) be about six feet. The horns are not One writer speaks of the Bison as developed to any great size, although walking "unconsciously into a quicksand when threatened attack by such a foe as or quagmire already choked with strugthe grizzly bear, the Bison may charge gling, dying victims. Having made up his antagonist, and may, by aid of the his mind to go a certain way, it is almost horns, inflict wounds of very severe or impossible to swerve him from his pureven fatal character. Even the wolves of pose." The hunters of the Bison take the prairie, which hungrily pursue the advantage of this stupid and dogged Bison in winter, may find the bull more tenacity of purpose, in the capture of the than a match for their ferocity and cun- animal. If a herd of Bisons is discovered ning combined. in near proximity to a precipice, the hun- In their native haunts the Bisons pass ters drive the animals nearer and nearer a peaceful existence. A favorite habit is to its brink. Forming a cordon round that of wallowing in the mud of pools them, the pursuers with shouts and cries and ponds, until the whole body becomes force a retreat in the direction of the cliffs. coated with mud, which has the effect of The herd, taking alarm, rushes forward, protecting the animal from the attack of only when too late to discover their misthe insects which annoy and bite them. take. The foremost members of the It was long believed that the bulls of a retreating and terrified cavalcade perherd formed a kind of protective guard, ceiving their danger as they come upon both in front and to the rear. But this the edge of the cliff, attempt to withdraw, notion is largely dispelled by more accu- only, however, to be hauled onwards by rate observation. The cows and their the advancing rank, which, in their turn, young are more watchful than the males, will be compelled to take a headlong and and are usually found in the van. fatal leap into the abyss below.