The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-04-12
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

lNtN I'M ED / kDM + lhS | fAt'f.
power of the spr'ngb0k was Witnessed
by ii vel. known hunter
Just as the lemming hosts are attended
by the birds and beasts of prey of their
own country, SO it is with the springbok.
These parasites do not attack the main
body, but watch for the stragglers and
pounce upon them. During the passage
of one of these springhok armies lion
was seen in the midst Of the antelopes,
forced to take an unwilling part IN II e
march.
He had evidently miscaculated his
leap and sprung too far, alightin% upon
the main body. Those upon whom he
alighted must have reco:led sufficiently
to allow him to reach the ground. and
then the pressure from both Hanks ard
the rear prevented him from escaping
from his strange captivity.
AS only the front ranks of these az
mics can put their heads to the ground.
We very naturally wonder how those in
the middle aud rear can feed. The mode
which is adopted is equally simple and
etlicacious.
When tie. herd arrives at. pasturagc,
those animals which occupy the hoht
feed grceGily until they can eat no more.
Then, being rumiuants, they need rest IN
order to enable them to chew the cud.
So they fall out Of the ranks aud quietly
chew the cud until the column has al
most passed them, when they fail i'll at
the rear and gradually work their way 70
the front again
As to water, they do not require IT,
many Of these South African antclopes
possessing the singular property OF being
able to exist ior months together without
drinking
Let rs again visit in imagination a
different part OF he world. and suppose
ourselves u be ca the p.al@ieS Of North
America. There We find anothc- rumi-
naut the bison. wrongly called tie buff
faln.
This creature migrateS witt toerable
regu iarity, and not many years ago, when
the gel ucn possessed the vast eNpanses
of North America, the native tribes wei
dependeu; upon the bison for their exis-
tencs. Tie bison was 20 the Red Indian
what the seal tribe is to tie Esquimaux
From the skins wtrc made their tents
or ''wigwa1nS. their warm clothing tot
winter, and their shields: while thsi.
bones afforded rude tools, ana hancies
for eapouS, The >;news gave strength
and iuuuhness to their wonderful little
bows, while there was scarcely portion
of the animal that was not Pnt to Sore
useful purpose.
The annual migratlons brought the
creatures within the reach OF the various
I. tribes, who, being in a state Of perpetual
warfare. did not dare venture out 81
~ utterly dependent, indeed, were
they upon the nigrations OF the bison.
that if the coming Of the animals was
DELAYED a few weeks beyond the usual
period, death from hunger wauld be an
almost certain result. The reader may
perhaps remember that several tribes ot
EsIuimauA were lately eXterminated by
similar failure, the waiIus having de-
serted its usual haunts, aud gone off to
some land whittier they could not follow
! il.
In some respects, the bison assemblies
tie lemmng, being equally stupid and
equally determined to press. forward.
Nothing will stop the bison herd when
it is ION the run The animals do not
march slowly, like the springbox, but
dash forward at full speed, their heads
down. their long hair hanging over their
eye*. aud each eniy intent Oh following
those which are i'll front of il.
The hunters. whether native or Euro-
peau, take advantage of this pecullar!ty.
The country ia which these creatures
live is !ntersectcd here and there with
IA, ines many hundreiis Of feet III depth,
having nearly perpendicular sides. At a
distance Of Il hundred yards these Ia
vines ale as Invisible as the trenches Q! a
modern !areST.
The hunters, however, know every
inch OF tie country, aud when they learn
that Il bison herd is on the run they con-
tive TO frighten the leaders, who. con-
pose the front rank, until they ale taking
direct course for a ravlne.
Then, nothing is needed but to let Tie
oisons alone. When they come within
forty yards or so Of the ravine. tie
leaders see their danger, and try to stor
bat the pressure from behind Is So ire
| si1t IDLE that they are forced onward. an,
! pushed over the edge ui the pi,c!pIt'
! The rest of the herd toi!o~ them, scarcely
; ary Of them even seeing tie aHlnc uriI
! they are falling into 1t.
! In this reckless way thousands .
! bisons are destroyed i'll less than III
| hour. Not one huudreuth part of then
! can i,e used By The hunters, the 10
maindcr being left u feed the vulturcs
coyotes. and other sc.sv eDg"rs. 1t is IL
wonder that the animal becomes Gradu
aIly sca.ce and that the hunters al
obliged year by year TO 90 father aiiel'
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