1897.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 497 



is from Peace Point to Salt Eiver, and from Salt River to within 

 twenty miles of Fort Resolution, on Great Slave Lake." 



Through the courtesy of Mr. G. B. Grinnell the writer was put in 

 communication with Mr. H. I. Moberly, of the Hudson Bay Co., at 

 Winnipeg, whose personal acquaintance with the woodland and 

 plains buffaloes renders his opinion of much value regarding their 

 so-called distinctions. Mr. Moberly writes as follows in answer to 

 a set of questions on the points in controversy : — 



Willoughby, Sask, N. W. T., November 9, 1897. 

 S. N. Rhoads, Esq. 



Dear Sir. — I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 

 29th ult., and will be glad to give you as full particulars as I can 

 regarding the Buffalo : — 1st, as to size: They are much larger than 

 the Plains Buffalo. In full-grown animals they are from 100 to 200 

 lbs. heavier. 2d, relative length of limbs: They are longer limbed 

 and longer in the body than the plains' ones. 3d, length of horn : 

 The horns of the Wood Buffalo are nearlv or fullv twice the length 

 of the plains' ones, and much straighter. 4th, fur: The long fur [of 

 head, neck and shoulders] is longer and more of a silky fur than 

 the plains' ones, and the under fur thicker and finer pelt, caused, no 

 doubt, by the high latitude they live in. 5th, habitat and habits: 

 They lived formerly from the beginning of the woody country north 

 of the Saskatchewan to Great Slave Lake, and further north along 

 the east slope of the Rocky Mountains. At present there are not 

 more than two hundred and fifty to three hundred alive, and they 

 are in two bands, one on the lower Peace River, north of it, and 

 run from close to Great Slave Lake at Peace Point, which is some 

 ninety miles below Fort Vermilion. The other is on the upper 

 Hay River and ranges between Peace River and the Liard River, 

 and run down some two hundred and fifty miles east of the Rocky 

 Mountains and up to the foot of the Rocky Mountains. I certainly 

 think they are a different animal from the Plains Buffalo. One 

 reason is that formerly, when they were both numerous and met 

 time and again on the edge of the timber line, I have never known 

 any [of one kind] to go with another band [of the other kind]. 

 The Wood Buffaloes live principally on the small branches of birch 

 and willows, although at times they also eat grass. I think there is 

 as much difference between them [wood and plains animals] as there 

 is between the Wood Caribou and the small Barren Ground ones, 

 which [species] meet every winter but never join together. I am 



