22 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE BISON, GENERALLY CALLED BUFFALO. 



THE habitat of this powerful and gigantic animal ex- 

 tended from the Gulf of Mexico on the south to the 

 62nd degree of north latitude, and from Kentucky and 

 Indiana on the east to the higher ridges of the Rocky 

 Mountains on the west ; however, this range is now 

 much contracted, and in a corresponding ratio their 

 numbers diminished. Although buffalo at the present 

 day can be found in the State of Kansas, yet the wholesale 

 butchery they have there been lately subjected to has 

 caused the few survivors to be extremely wild and difficult 

 of approach ; therefore I should advise the sportsman to 

 direct his steps further toward the north-west, to the 

 valley of the Yellowstone or upper forks of the Missouri, 

 to the Saskatchewan or the large plains lying to its north. 

 From the increase of settlement and of travel across the 

 continent, this game, which formerly was migratory, has, 

 comparatively speaking, ceased to be so ; thus the sports- 

 man will not now be compelled to follow them over an 

 extensive range of country, but will probably be able to 



