BUFFALO. 123 



His indisposition to travel over bad ground is by no 

 means to be taken as inability to do so. When frightened 

 he will, with perfect impunity, climb banks or plunge 

 down precipices where it would be impossible, or certain 

 death, to a horse to follow. I have elsewhere spoken of 

 his liability to stampede ; but, even, when impelled by the 

 madness which overpowers the stampeded animals, such 

 is his strength and power of resistance, that he is rarely 

 seriously injured by tumbles which would disable if not 

 kill any other animal. 



The habits of the buffalo are almost identical with 

 those of the domestic cattle. Owing either to a more 

 pacific disposition, or to the greater number of bulls, 

 there is very little fighting, even at the season when it 

 might be expected. I have been among them for days, 

 have watched their conduct for hours at a time, and with 

 the very best opportunities for observation, but have 

 never seen a regular combat between bulls. They 

 frequently strike each other with their horns, but this 

 seems to be a mere expression of impatience at being 

 crowded. 



The small herds, of which I have spoken as com- 

 prising the great herd, have each generally more bulls 

 than cows, seemingly all on the very best terms with 

 each other. 



The old bulls do undoubtedly leave the herd and 

 wander off as advance or rear guards and flankers ; but I 

 am disposed to believe this to be due to a misanthropic 

 abnegation of society on the part of these old fellows, to 

 whom female companionship no longer possesses its 

 charm, rather than to their being driven out by the 

 younger bulls, as is generally believed. 



The habitual separation of the large herd into 

 numerous smaller herds seems to be an instinctive act, 

 probably for perfect mutual protection. It has been 

 thought, said, and written by many persons that each 

 small herd is a sort of community, the harem and 



