THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 107 



we thought of the horns of our bulls, and Mr. Culbcrt- 

 son, who knows the country like a book, drove us first to 

 Bell's, who knocked the horns off, then to Harris's, which 

 was served in the same manner; this bull had been eaten 

 entirely except the head, and a good portion of mine had 

 been devoured also; it lay immediately under "Audu- 

 bon's Bluff" (the name Mr. Culbertson gave the ridge on 

 which I stood to see the chase), and we could see it when 

 nearly a mile distant. Bell's horns were the handsomest 

 and largest, mine next best, and Harris's the smallest, 

 but we are all contented. Mr. Culbertson tells me that 

 Harris and Bell have done wonders, for persons who have 

 never shot at Buffaloes from on horseback. Harris had a 

 fall too, during his second chase, and was bruised in the 

 manner of Squires, but not so badly. I have but little 

 doubt that Squires killed his bull, as he says he shot it 

 three times, and Mr. Culbertson's must have died also. 

 What a terrible destruction of life, as it were for noth- 

 ing, or next to it, as the tongues only were brought in, 

 and the flesh of these fine animals was left to beasts and 

 birds of prey, or to rot on the spots where they fell. The 

 prairies are literally covered with the skulls of the vic- 

 tims, and the roads the Buffalo make in crossing the 

 prairies have all the appearance of heavy wagon tracks. 

 We saw young Golden Eagles, Ravens, and Buzzards. I 

 found the Short-billed Marsh Wren quite abundant, and 

 in such localities as it is found eastward. The Black- 

 breasted Prairie-bunting flies much like a Lark, hover- 

 ing while singing, and sweeping round and round, over 

 and above its female while she sits on the eggs on the 

 prairie below. I saw only one Gadwall Duck; these 

 birds are found in abundance on the plains where 

 water and rushes are to be found. Alas ! alas ! eighteen 

 Assiniboins have reached the fort this evening in two 

 groups; they are better-looking than those previously 

 seen by us. 



