;86 THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



miles, or even, exceptionally, at five miles. At the conclusion of the breeding- 

 season the herd again broke up into small bands. In these periodical journeys 

 across the country in search of water regular tracks were formed by the bison, and 

 as the water was approached, several tracks united, with the result that in some 

 places tracks of about twelve inches in width, and from six to seven in depth, may 

 be seen following the level of the valleys; the bison in these journeys having 

 always marched in single file. These old bison tracks still remain as a memento of 

 a vanished race, and are now used by the domestic cattle which have supplanted the 

 monarchs of the prairie. After reaching the watering place, the herd, instead of re- 

 turning to its original feeding ground, would wander right and left in search of 

 fresh pastures. When undisturbed in good pasture, bison were always in the habit 

 of lying down for a few hours during the middle of the day; and they were at cer- 

 tain seasons fond of rolling either in dust or mud. In districts where salt lakes oc- 

 curred, the bison would resort to them in great numbers. All the great herds were 

 in the habit of moving southward for a distance of from two hundred to four hun- 

 dred miles with the approach of winter; and during such journeys it frequently 

 happened that numbers were lost in crossing quicksands, alkali bogs, muddy fords, 

 or on treacherous ice. It is stated than in 1867 upward of two thousand bison out 

 of a herd of four thousand were lost in a quicksand; and that an entire herd of 

 about one hundred head perished when crossing the ice on a lake in Minnesota. 



Bison would boldly face the cutting blizzards of the northwest instead of turn- 

 ing tail to them after the manner of domestic cattle; although they would at the 

 same time seek such shelter as might be obtainable by retiring to the ravines and 

 valleys. In heavy falls of snow, which lay long on the ground, the bison were 

 often compelled to fast for days, or even weeks, together; but they suffered most 

 when the surface of the snow was covered with a thin crust of ice after a slight thaw, 

 as their ponderous weight would drive their feet deep into the snow, and leave them 

 at the mercy of the Indians, by whom they were slain by hundreds when thus helpless. 

 Space does not admit of anything more than bare mention of a few 

 of the modes in which the bison was hunted. The method of stalking, 

 or "still-hunting," where the hunter creeps up to a herd and shoots one after 

 another of its members, appears to be one of the most deadly, owing to the crass 

 stupidity of the animals themselves. The plan adopted was first to shoot the 

 leader, when the remainder of the herd would come and stupidly smell round the 

 body, till another animal assumed the post of leader, and was shot down when it 

 was about to make a move; the same process being repeated almost without end. 

 Riding down, surrounding, impounding, or hunting in snowshoes were, however, 

 other equally effective methods of destruction. 



In captivity the American bison breeds freely, not only with its 

 Domestication also with Qther species of catt i e- j n tne United States 



a herd has been established by crossing bull bison with domestic cows; the cow 

 bison not producing a hybrid offspring. This hybrid race is perfectly fertile, either 

 with itself or when again crossed with domestic cattle; and it is considered that a 

 strain of bison blood will lead to the cattle in the Northwestern States being better 

 enabled to withstand the blizzards of those districts. 



