58 THE AMERICAN BISONS. 
foreheads are protected. At this season the bulls become lean, but regain 
their flesh again in autumn, when they are usually in the best condition. 
_ The cows, on the other hand, as well as the eae and two-year-olds, are 
generally fattest in June. 
In respect to the degree of maternal affection possessed by the buffalo cow 
there seems to be a wide range of opinion among observers. Some deny 
that the mother has any affection for its offspring, stating that when fright- 
ened the buffalo cow will abandon her calf without the slightest hesitation. 
On the other hand, others report her as being not only constantly vigilant in 
the care of her young, but bold in its defence. Colonel Dodge, indeed, states 
that the duty of protecting the calves devolves wholly upon the bulls. He 
says: “I have seen evidences of this many times, but the most remarkable 
instance I have ever heard of was related to me by an army surgeon, who 
was an eyewitness. He was one evening returning to camp, after a day’s 
hunt, when his attention was attracted by the curious action of a little knot 
of six or eight buffaloes. Approaching sufficiently near to see clearly, he dis- 
covered that this little knot were all bulls, standing in a close circle with 
their heads outward, while in a concentric circle at some twelve or fifteen 
paces distant sat licking their chops in impatient expectancy, at least a dozen 
large gray wolves, excepting man, the most dangerous enemy of the buffalo. 
The Doctor determined to watch the performance. After a few moments the 
knot broke up, still keeping in a compact mass, and started on a trot for the 
main herd, some half a mile off. To his very great astonishment the Doc- 
tor now saw that the central and controlling figure of this mass was a poor 
little calf, so newly born as scarcely: to be able to walk. After going fifty or 
a hundred yards the calf lay down. The bulls disposed themselves in a cir- 
cle as before, and the wolves, who had trotted along on each flank of their 
retreating supper, sat down and licked their chops again. This was repeated 
again and again, and although the Doctor did not see the finale (it being late, 
and the camp distant), he had no doubt that the noble fathers did their 
whole duty by their offspring, and carried it safely to the herd.”* 
Audubon states, on the contrary, that the cow does not at such times 
desert its young, but tries to defend it,t which statement is confirmed by 
many plainsmen and hunters who are thoroughly conversant with the habits 
of the buffalo. 
* Chicago Inter-Ocean, August 5, 1875. 
f Quad. N. Am., Vol. IL, p. 37. 
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