252 BUFFALO LAND. 



distinctive rings that made it impossible, on second 

 look, to mistake them for any thing else. Truly, Na- 

 ture seemed full of eccentricities in this remarkable 

 region. The raccoons of natural history have always 

 affected trees, and been considered, par excellence, 

 creatures of the forest. I scarcely think the Profes- 

 sor would have been surprised, at that moment, to 

 know that hereabouts fish were in the habit of climb- 

 ing around in bushes, or stealing corn. 



When they heard us, the four little fellows scam- 

 pered away a few steps, and disappeared in some 

 holes in the bank, in executing which maneuver one 

 of them swam a yard or two across a deep spot, 

 making good progress. We learned from our men 

 that small colonies of these animals are frequently 

 found along treeless creeks on the plains, living in 

 the banks, and fishing for a living, by grasping the 

 minnows and frogs, as they pass over the shallow 

 places. 



From the river we directed our course toward a 

 deep canyon which, opening toward us as if the bluff 

 had been riven asunder by some great convulsion of 

 Nature, at its further end reached the level of the 

 plains, and offered us an easy ascent. Evidence of 

 volcanic action appeared along the canyon in the form 

 of vitrified fragments and occasional masses of lava 

 resembling rock. 



The guide called our attention to an object in the 

 ravine some distance ahead, which was enveloped in 

 a cloud of dust. It was a buffalo, he said, indulging 

 in a game of bluff. This statement not appearing 

 very clear to our non-gambling party, he explained 



