44 



MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



mass was within fifty yards, when a few well- 

 directed shots split the herd, and sent it pouring 

 off in two streams to the right and left, \\hen 

 all had passed they stopped, apparently perfectly 

 satisfied, many within less than loo yards. From 

 the top of Pawnee Rock I could see from six 

 to ten miles in almost every direction. This 

 whole vast space was covered with Buffalo, look- 

 ing at a distance like a compact mass." 



The history of the Buffalo and its practical 

 extermination as a wild animal reads like a 

 tragedy. It has been so often recounted that 

 only a few salient facts need be mentioned here. 

 It is safe to put the primitive number of Buffalo 



at 50.000.000 to 60,000.000; in 1850, there were 

 probably remaining 20,000,000; in 1870, only 

 5,500,000 were left; in 1888 (including some in 

 captivity), a meagre 1,300; and about 1895 the 

 remnant had probably dwindled to 800. To- 

 day, thanks to the efforts of the governments of 

 the United States and Canada, the New York 

 Zoological Society, the American Bison Society, 

 and certain public-spirited individuals, the Bison 

 is breeding rapidly in parks and private pre- 

 serves. In 1912 it was estimated that there were 

 in North America 2,907 living Bison, and since 

 then the increase has continued, several small 

 herds being in a thriving condition. 



By permission of the New York Zoological Society 



THE LAST OF MANY MILLIONS 

 The Wichita herd of Bison is one of the few groups being carefully preserved 



