124 GAME. 



retainers of some specially powerful bull who keeps 

 proper order and subjection among them. Nothing is 

 farther from the truth. The association is not only 

 purely instinctive, voluntary, free from the domination of 

 power, of sexual appetite, or individual preferences, but is 

 most undoubtedly entirely accidental as to its individual 

 components. 



I have, unobserved, carefully watched herds while 

 feeding. I have seen two or more small herds merge 

 into one, or one larger herd separate into two or more. 

 This is done quietly, gradually, and as it were accidentally, 

 in the act of feeding, each buffalo seeming only intent on 

 getting his full share of the best grass. The cows and 

 calves are always in the centre, the bulls on the outside. 

 When two feeding herds approach each other and merge 

 into one, the only perceptible change and this is so 

 gradual as scarcely to be noticeable is that the bulls on 

 the sides of contact work themselves out towards a new 

 circumference, which is to enclose the whole ; and when 

 a larger herd breaks by the same gradual process into 

 smaller ones, the bulls instinctively place themselves on 

 the outside of each. 



When pursued the herds rush together in one compact 

 plunging mass. As soon as the pursuit is over, and the 

 buffalo are sufficiently recovered from their fright to 

 begin feeding, those on the outside of the mass gradually 

 detach themselves by breaking into small herds, until the 

 whole large herd is in the normal condition. If each 

 dominant bull had on such occasions to run through the 

 whole great herd to look up his lost wives, children, and 

 dependents, his life would not only be a very unhappy 

 but a very busy one. 



There is one very marked and curious difference 

 between buffalo and domestic cattle. The cow seems to 

 possess scarcely a trace of maternal instinct, and, when 

 frightened, will abandon and run away from her calf 

 without the slightest hesitation. The duty of protecting 



