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. f 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 



