22 Introductory 



noted, for the remnants of this herd took to 

 the mountains and became almost as expert 

 mountain climbers as the bighorn sheep. 

 So marked was this characteristic of these 

 bison after a few years that they were also 

 set off in a class by themselves, being called 

 the Mountain Bison. 



The mountain-climbing accomplishments 

 of these harassed buffalo were almost be- 

 yond belief. To see a buffalo bull who 

 would weigh nearly two thousand pounds 

 going up an almost perpendicular cliff like 

 a Rocky Mountain sheep was a not uncom- 

 mon sight. The few now living in the 

 Yellowstone Park inhabit the mountains 

 almost entirely and so are rarely seen by 

 travelers, or even by hunters. 



In the destruction of the northern herd 

 the steamboats plying up and down the 

 Missouri River played an important part. 

 Here again upon the docks at the different 

 towns along the river bank, robes were piled 



