294 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



the railway statistics of shipments and Colonel Dodge's obser- 

 vations, Dr. Hornaday has calculated the slaughter of the 

 herd as follows :^^ 



1872 iA9^A^9 



1873 1,508,658 



1874 158,583 



Total 3>i58,730 



Killed by the Indians during the same period .... 390,000 

 Settlers and Indians 150,000 



Total 3,698,730^' 



These are the lowest estimates that I know of. Colonel 

 Jones's figures are about double these. That was practically 

 the end of the southern herd. A few scattered bands lingered 

 in out-of-the-way places, but were relentlessly hunted down. 

 The last considerable herd that I can learn about was in 1886, 

 described to me seven years afterward by Charles Norris, 

 cowboy, of Clayton, N.M., whose narrative is full of interesting 

 detail. The date seemed to me very late for so large a herd, 

 but cross-examination did not make him change it. 



THE LAST The last big bunch of Buffalo he ever saw was in the ** Pan- 

 SOUTH handle" of Texas. He came on them in May of 1886. He was 

 ^^^° driving a bunch of horses from Coldwater to Buifalo Springs; 

 and, when thirty-five miles east of Buffalo Springs, he saw the 

 herd about three miles off, and knew at once they were Buffalo, 

 because they were all of one colour. He left the horses with 

 the other man, as all he needed was a guide to this place. Next 

 day, on returning, Norris saw the Buffalo again about fifteen 

 miles farther east, and rode in ajnong them. Some were lying 

 down and some were grazing. They seemed about 200 in num- 

 ber; 6 only were little calves. As soon as they saw him they 

 bunched like cattle and kept on ''milling" around. Then one 

 bull made a lead to stampede, but none followed him, so he 



''^Ibid., p. 499. ''^Ihid., p. 501. 



