American Bison 8^ 



animals would soon consume and destroy vast areas of herbage ; and it has 

 even been suggested that at the time of the maximum development of 

 the race the vast prairies ot the north-west were none too large for the 

 sustenance of the herds of bison with which they were covered. The 

 course of streams and rivers marked out to a considerable extent the main 

 direction ot migration ; but such lines ot march were often altered owino; 

 to the occurrence ot prairie fires or the presence of devastating hordes of 

 locusts. Previous to the days of railroads, which aided so materially in 

 putting a term to the existence of the race, the periodical migrations 

 of the bison to and tro were so constant and regular that the time tor 

 the arrival and departure ot the herd in any one locality could be predicted 

 with a close approximation to correctness. 



When the herd was alarmed or in danger, its members, as is so 

 generally the case with animals associating in large bodies, seemed to 

 lose all sense ot individual responsibility, and rushed madly forwards, 

 heedless of objects which would have effectually stayed the progress of 

 solitary animals. No danger in tront would indeed stop the advance of 

 the herd, although unwonted interruptions in its rear would give rise to 

 hopeless confusion. 



As an example of this state of affairs the following account from the 

 pen of Colonel Dodge may be quoted: — "The winter of 1871-72 was 

 unusually severe in Kansas. The ponds and smaller streams to the north 

 were all trozen solid, and the bison were forced to the rivers for water. 

 The x'\tchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad was then in course of 

 construction. It a herd was on the north side of the track it would stand 

 stupidly grazing and without symptom of alarm, though the locomotive 

 passed within a hundred yards. If on the south side ot the track, even 

 though at a distance of one or two miles, the passage of a train set the 

 whole herd in the wildest commotion. At its full speed, and utterly 

 regardless ot consequences, it would make for the track on its line ot 



