In Buffalo Days 



numbered respectively 78, 50, no, and 15. 

 Besides these, a number of scattering groups 

 were seen at a distance, which would bring 

 the number up to three hundred. 



In the far northwest, in the Peace River 

 district, there may still be found a few wood 

 buffalo. They are seldom killed, and the 

 estimate of their numbers varies from five 

 hundred to fifteen hundred. This cannot be 

 other than the merest guess, since they are 

 scattered over many thousand square miles 

 of territory which is without inhabitants, and 

 for the most part unexplored. 



On the great plains is still found the buf- 

 falo skull half buried in the soil and crum- 

 bling to decay. The deep trails once trodden 

 by the marching hosts are grass-grown now, 

 and fast filling up. When these most endur- 

 ing relics of a vanished race shall have 

 passed away, there will be found, in all the 

 limitless domain once darkened by their feed- 

 ing herds, not one trace of the American 

 buffalo. 



George Bird GrinnelL 



211 



