MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 263 
. solid, and the buffalo were forced to the rivers for water. The 
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad was then in process 
of construction. If 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 of 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 of 
consequences, it would make for the track, on its line of re- 
treat. If the train happened not to be in its path it crossed the 
track and stopped, satisfied. If the train was in the way, each 
individual buffalo went at it with the desperation of despair, 
plunging against or between locomotive and cars, just as the 
blind madness chanced to take them. Numbers were killed, 
but numbers still pressed on only to stop and stare as soon as 
the obstacle was passed.” But notwithstanding the traits 
largely resulting from the communism in which the animal 
lives they are balanced by others representing the virtues be- 
longing to social existence. The buffalo is no wise lacking in 
evidences of affection and parental solicitude. 
The bulls invariably range themselves about the circumfer- 
ence of the herd while the cows and calves remain in the cen- 
ter. The larger herds when feeding break up into smaller 
groups, which preserve the same arrangement in obedience to 
instinct. It appears that the notion long prevalent that cer- 
tain old bulls stand as sentries upon the outskirts of the herd 
is fallaceous, most observers claiming that it is the females 
with anxiety quickened by the maternal instinct, which are 
usually first to perceive danger. The picture presented by a 
huge composite herd when alarmed, uniting, forming into a 
solid column and plunging across the plain, is grand indeed, 
while hardly less interesting is the sight, alas, to be seen no 
more, of thousands of God’s cattle grazing in undisturbed quiet 
on their appointed hills. Many incidents have been related of 
the devotion of the buffalo cow to her offspring in danger, 
while the contrary reports seem to be due to circumstances oc- 
casioned by the dominant social instinct where the individual 
was lost in the social instinct. 
In some cases it is the males upon whom the office of protec- . 
tion devolves, especially in case of attack by wolves. Wolves 
were the only animals molesting the bison until the advent of 
man, and before their numbers were so reduced by hunters 
these marauders constantly harrassed the herds. Indeed, it 
