To show the strength of the buffalo's sense of smelling, we may relate the following circumstance which took place during Major Long's expedition. The party were riding through a dreary and uninteresting country, which at that time was enlivened by vast numbers of buffaloes, which were moving in countless thousands in every direction. As the wind was blowing fresh from the south, the scent of the party was wafted directly across the river Platte, and over a distance of eight or ten miles; every step of its progress was distinctly marked by the alarm and consternation it produced among the buffaloes. The instant their atmosphere was infected by the tainted gale, they ran as violently as if pursued by mounted hunters, and instead of fleeing from the danger, they turned their heads towards the wind, eager to escape the terrifying odor. They dashed obliquely forward towards the party, and plunging into the river, swam, waded and ran with headlong violence, in several instances breaking through the expedition's line of march. One of the party, perceiving from the direction taken by the bull which led the extended column, that he would emerge from the low river bottom at a point where the precipitous bank was deeply worn by much travelling, urged his horse rapidly forward that he might reach this station in order to gain a nearer view of these interesting animals. He had but just gained the spot when the formidable leader bounding up the steep, reached the summit of the bank with his fore feet, and in this position suddenly halted from his full career, and fiercely glared at the horse which stood full in his path. The horse was panic-struck

by the sudden apparition, trembled violently from fear, and would have wheeled and taken to flight, had not his rider exerted his utmost strength to restrain him. He recoiled, however, a few feet, and sunk down upon his haunches. The buffalo halted for a moment, but urged forward by the irresistible pressure of the moving column behind, he rushed onward by the half-sitting horse. The herd then came swiftly on, crowding up the narrow defile. The party had now reached the spot, and extended along a considerable distance; the buffaloes ran in a confused manner in various directions to gain the distant bluff, and many were compelled to pass through the line of march. This scene, added to the plunging and roaring of those which were yet crossing the river, produced a grand effect, that was heightened by the fire opened upon them by the hunters.

BEAR HUNTING.

THERE is a considerable variety of species in the family of bears, among which the brown bear of Europe and Asia is the most common. This was once numerous in all the temperate regions of the eastern continent, but it is now found only in the northern portions. Beside this, there are the Thibet, jungle, Indian and Malay bears, of the eastern hemisphere; the white, or sea-bear, of the polar regions; and the black, grizzly, barren ground and spectacled bears, of America. The latter is confined to the trop

ical portions of the Andes, and is the only species found in hot countries.

In all countries which it inhabits, the brown bear is

a favorite animal with the of its skin as its flesh.

hunter, as well on account To the rude tribes which

inhabit Asia, it is of the greatest value. It abounds particularly in Kamschatka, and here the people make beds, coverlets, caps, gloves, snow-shoes and harness of its skin; of its fat they make oil, and its flesh is a favorite species of food. Of the intestines they make window panes and masks to preserve the face of the ladies from the weather. The shoulder blades are converted into sickles for cutting grass.

In northern countries the skin of the bear is coveted for its fur; its grease is sent to all the capitals of Europe, to be converted into pomatum for the hair, and multitudes are caught young and trained to vari

ous tricks, for which the creature has an aptitude. Many stratagems are naturally resorted to for the capture of an animal in such request as well in the countries where he is found as in more distant regions. In many cases he is openly attacked with clubs, spears and fire arms; in some cases he is caught in traps of logs, in others, he is taken in pitfalls. Sometimes a noose is so placed with a bait, that the creature in attempting to seize the latter, is strangled.

Hunting wild animals is practised in Sweden by what is called a skall, in which great numbers of people surround a large extent of territory, and march toward a central point, driving the animals before them, till they are pent up in so narrow a space that they cannot escape the shots of the hunters. By the laws of Sweden, when a skall takes place in any particular district, every house where cattle are kept is compelled to furnish, when required by the authorities, one man, as a contingent to aid in the hunt; as it is equally the interest of all persons possessing cattle to destroy such ferocious animals as wolves and bears. Should a Sunday or other holiday intervene between the appointment and the execution of the skall, a notification is given out from the pulpit, just before the conclusion of divine service, specifying the number of people required, the district from which they are to come, and the day, hour, and place of rendezvous.

The formation and arrangements of the skalls vary with the season of the year and nature of the country. In the summer skalls the greatest variety of game is collected. The winter skalls commonly embrace a

smaller extent of country, and bears are usually their object. The act of ascertaining the spot in which a bear has taken up his quarters in winter is called ringing, and is thus performed. When there is snow upon the ground, and the track of the animal is discovered, a person follows it until he judges himself near the bear's retreat. This is indicated by his proceeding very slowly and in a round-about course, or rather by his doubling in the same manner as a hare, for as long as he goes in a straight line he has no intention of lying down. The man now leaves the track, and begins making an extended ring round the suspected part of the forest. Should he complete this circle without again meeting with the track, he may be certain that the bear is within it. If, on the contrary, he finds that the animal has proceeded beyond it, he commences another ring, and thus he continues till he succeeds in accomplishing his object. Sometimes the ring is six or eight miles in circumference; at other times not more than one To ring a bear properly demands great experience, and during the operation the greatest silence and caution are necessary.

The following account of a skall in Dalecarlia is extracted from Lloyd's Field Sports of the North of Europe: "I was in the northern parts of the province of Dalecarlia when an express reached me from Mr. Falk, with intelligence that a she-bear and three very large cubs had been roused from their winter quarters, near to a hamlet called Skoga, situated about seven or eight miles from Stjern. He added, further, that they were safely ringed,' there being at that time much snow