[Illustration: AMERICAN BUFFALO.]
The American Buffalo, commonly known in other countries as the Bison, is
a gigantic species which ranges over the temperate and northern
provinces of the American continent. It is of thick-set shape, and
carries its head low, on a level with its back, while its shoulders are
high. Its head is short and large; its horns are small, lateral, far
apart, black and rounded. Its head, neck, and shoulders are covered with
thick, curly, dark brown hair. Its tail is short, and terminated by a
tuft of long hair.
This immense animal inhabits all parts of North America, especially the
plateaux on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. In the spring,
herds of thousands of Buffaloes, crowded closely together, make their
way up from the south to the north of these vast steppes; in the autumn
they migrate again to the south. When the summer comes, these wild
troops break up, and the Buffaloes separate into couples or small herds.
American Buffaloes are not ferocious in their nature; they seldom attack
Man, but will defend themselves when wounded; they then become
formidable adversaries, for their enormous heads, well furnished with
horns, and their fore-feet, are terrible weapons. In their migrations,
their numbers are so enormous, that as they advance everything that
comes in their way is devastated.