CHAPTER XV 



THE AMERICAN BUFFALO (BOS BISON AMERICANUS) 



THERE is no portion of the globe which exhibits the results of 

 destruction more painfully than the prairies of North America. 

 The Indians have given place to the extension of the white 

 man's sway, and, as the wild tribes have diminished in proportion 

 to the increase of European races, in like manner the wild 

 animals either retreat to more distant solitudes, or cease to 

 exist. The buffalo of America, which at one time blackened 

 the plains with its countless herds, has now become a rarity, 

 and in certain localities, where formerly the prairie grass was 

 eaten close by thousands of these uncouth but interesting beasts, 

 not a solitary specimen can be discovered. 



The bison is a grand-looking creature, and in my opinion it is 

 the most striking of all wild animals. There is a peculiar 

 savagery in the aspect of a shaggy old bull in its winter coat, 

 which surpasses in wildness of appearance all other species of 

 game. Although in reality a bison, this animal is invariably 

 termed the American buffalo. The bull is about 15 J to 16 

 hands at the shoulder, but this gives an erroneous idea of the 

 proportions of the animal, as the shoulder is abnormally high, 

 and from the withers, the back, instead of being straight, slopes 

 towards the hind-quarters. These are disproportioned to the 

 massive front of the animal, as they are very inferior to the fore- 

 quarters. The tail is shorter than in any of the bovine tribe. 

 The hoofs are small in proportion to the great size of the animal. 

 The ponderous strength of this animal is exhibited in the head, 

 neck, and fore -quarters; these are enormous. A shaggy mass 

 of nearly black hair covers the head and almost conceals the eyes ; 

 this mane-like covering descends, and terminates in a long beard, 

 which reaches to the knees. The horns, like all the bisons, are 

 short and curved. In the winter months the coat is thickly furred 



