288 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



Others maintain that there is no mating and that the 

 species is promiscuous. Yet others assert that extreme polyg- 

 amy is the rule — that the strongest bull drives the rest out and 

 holds the herd as his harem. 



COMBATS That great battles take place there can be no doubt. 

 The annual ferment, the disturber of so much animal peace, 

 sets in during July — earlier in the south, later in the north — and 

 continues about two months. Catlin's picture is that of a man 

 who had seen it many times: 



**The 'running season,^ which is in August and September 

 [he says®''], is the time when they congregate into such masses, 

 in some places, as literally to blacken the prairies for miles 

 together. It is no uncommon thing at this season, at these 

 gatherings, to see several thousands in a mass, eddying and 

 wheeling about under a cloud of dust, which is raised by the 

 bulls, as they are pawing in the dirt, or engaged in desperate 

 combats, as they constantly are, plunging and butting at each 

 other in the most furious manner. In these scenes the males 

 are continually following the females, and the whole mass are 

 in a constant motion; and all bellowing (or 'roaring') in deep 

 and hollow sounds; which, mingled all together, appear, at the 

 distance of a mile or two, like the sound of distant thunder." 

 Fremont's description is given even more detailed:"^ 

 "July 7, 1842. — In the course of the afternoon, dust rising 

 among the hills at a particular place attracted our attention; 

 and, riding up, we found a band of 18 or 20 Buffalo bulls 

 engaged in a desperate fight. Though butting and goring 

 were bestowed liberally, and without distinction, yet their 

 efforts were evidently directed against one — a huge, gaunt old 

 bull, very lean, while his adversaries were all fat and in good 

 order. He appeared very weak, and had already received 

 some wounds, and, while we were looking on, was several times 

 knocked down and badly hurt, and a very few moments would 

 have put an end to him. Of course we took the side of 

 the weaker party, and attacked the herd; but they were so 



*" N. A. Indians, Vol. I, p. 249. " Expl. Exped., 1845, P- 26. 



