The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-02-06

iE b elaborate and accurate description of the
puyssca. traits " tie CALI ycariug spike bull
cgw. AID aGG.I bali. lat tAc mounted specimens
ID thc National Museum exhibit them All ggith
TIC utmost cEaciucss- are, IN fact typical ami
Eas, and - well set ~ that, us Tar rs external
feltarrs 20, iacy are a. Instructive as living
lara.s. Concerning his length o. life, Mr.
Ls-HadaE remarks that tie horns serve Is q
'alF index - tie age % q bison. After he IS
i!3Tcc years old, tie bison adds each year q ring
around the base q his horns the same as do
Iaesilc cattle. u We may judge by this the
horn begins 10 break when the bison Is about
&C.! o. eleven years Old" Then, q" the outer
layers begin 10 break of a. the tin
sna Ii.e A. upon one another, until Tic morn
Las BecoIDe thick, blunt stub with only the
tip q what was once a neat aud shapely point
sBpH az ~ thc end" This "gtubbing prOcess
gradually continues during tie rest Of his lifo
Judging continues tho writer. by the
teeth, aUd also by tic Oldest horns ! have seen
aia 81 the opinion that tie natural lifetime
81 tic bison j. about twenty Eve years; Ger
i&inlg 40 less" AZ three years Of age the COW
begin 10 breed, and the births are single as a
rale Unlike tie young Of nearly all other
Boyier, The buffalo c.lfduring he first months
81 lts existence is covered Eitl hair Of q t0ially
different color from that which covers HIM
tbe remainder Il bis life He Is then brown
lhh-yclloE." anG al this period also tic youug
animal Is very easily tanned" A male calf I'd
four months measures 81 length Of body and
hcaa about three feet ten aud Ouc-haif inches:
tie lall yerieJTe al all ages the tail j. more
CT less iullcaj viii average seven inches, aud
tEC hight "a Che shoulder would be iu the
mandate nc.ghb1TlJJd Of t#9 feet eight
lUclies. il a Wcil-deyciDPed adult bull. the
hight At thc shoulder 80 the skin reaches
about Ggc feet eight inches aud the same
measurement caT.cd 10 the top u tic hair
equal SIX feet tho animals length 10 the root
q the tail closely apprOzim4l 10 30 feet
LAO inches, aud the gcTteJ.l Of the latter are
OUe foot three inches ia length Such an AMI.
MaI, ia good condition, as uumBloFi D.sgus
constantly arc, VIII weigh over ] zoo pounds
Materially, TIC dimensions 81 the COW are some
swat less. al4d ia q specimen VI = female about
eight years old, mounted 10 the In cum, the
figures are, Hight az shoulders, four feet ten
inches; length head aud body L. insertion Of
tail eight feet Six inches; length VI tic tail
vert bra, one foot.
This species, however, exhibits numerous
dlYcfsltes - size, color. ge. raj gHlgrlultion
Eaa ia the shape d its horns, which are fro
quently uneyImetTical. alauy writer's SAYS
BIT HOTnadaE, have ass f,cd the exist nee If
tso well-marlcd specific forms of bison-tl4at
q the plains, aud what is called the wood but.
ialo,f an animal exclusively found among forest
nights p; bat IL is bis opinion that at present
there Is apparently MOI tie slightest ground Tor
considering that tAc n9uL AIN buffalo or wood
buffalo Is entitled 10 rank even as q variety Of
Bison Americans"
The history Of thc buddlo's daily life and
habits should bHgin with ilc running season %
tAullst and September ILcB his " ucw cot 81
aa!1 2Iay 0nd black LAS Completely replaced