Buffalo 253 



that were my guides killed a couple, which we found to be 

 very good and wholesome meat, and are very easy to be 

 killed, in regard they are heavy, slow, and not so wild as 

 other Beasts of the wilderness." 



*'It is to be regretted [says Hornaday ^] that the narrative 

 of the explorer affords no clew to the precise locality of this 

 interesting discovery; but, since it is doubtful that the mariners 

 journeyed very far on foot from the head of navigation of the 

 Potomac, it seems highly probable that the first American Bison 

 seen by Europeans, other than the Spaniards, was found within 

 15 miles, or even less, of the capitol of the United States, and 

 possibly within the District of Columbia itself." 



From this time onward, the region of the Buffalo was more 

 often visited, and the explorers gave frequent descriptions of 

 the great beast and of its vast numbers.'*' 



The earliest figure that I can find was that given by 

 Gomara in 1553. It is here reproduced, full size (p. 252). 

 Evidently it was drawn from the imaginative description of the 

 discoverer. While corresponding line for line with the text, 

 which corresponds line for line with the animal, it presents in 

 the language of the times, a monstrous beast indeed. 



Life-history. 



The accompanying map (p. 255), showing the original range 

 range of the Buffalo, has been compiled chiefly from maps 

 by Drs. Allen and Hornaday, with later information accumu- 

 lated from other sources. 



When Alexander Henry H came to Red River, in 1799, in^l\ni- 

 he found the Buffalo swarming all along the Red River Valley. 



Alexander Ross says" *'all this part of the country was 

 overrun by the wild Buffalo, even as late at 18 10." 



"Exterm. Am. Bison, 1889, p. 375. 



'" These facts are largely drawn from the two standard sources: Dr. W. T. Homa- 

 day's Extermination of the American Bison (1889), and Dr. J. A. Allen's American 

 Bisons (1876). 



" Red River Settlement, 1856, p. 15. 



