ORGANIZATION OF LAND COMMUNITIES 57 



Grasses are the dominant plants of the prairie; 

 within the memory of men still living, these were 

 held in check by the activities of the bison. 

 These formerly abundant animals not only kept 

 the grasses well cropped but also prevented the 

 invasion of the prairie by aspen pioneers. An 

 early observer records: "The grass would be 

 rather long were it not for the buffalo. Buffalo 

 have ravaged this small grove; nothing remains 

 but the large elms and oaks whose bark has been 

 polished to the height of the buffalo by their 

 perpetual rubbing. Brush and grass are not to 

 be seen in this little woodland which on the whole 

 is a delightful spot." 



The bison, elk and antelope are gone and their 

 place is taken by domestic cattle. The buffalo 

 wolves are also gone; foxes are decreased in num- 

 bers. Coyotes increased at first with the decrease 

 of their more powerful competitors but are being 

 reduced as the result of a bounty having been 

 placed on their heads. With the decrease of their 

 enemies, Richardson's ground squirrel and the 

 badger, which feeds largely upon this squirrel, also 

 increased in numbers only to go into decline after 

 an intensive killing campaign was inaugurated. 

 Of all such large or medium-sized mammals, only 

 the jack rabbit is now holding its own or increasing 

 in numbers. 



