American Buffalo 



being for the most part solitary, and the herds consisting of 

 cows and calves which go about in small bands of from ten to 

 twenty. The movements of the herds are described by Colonel 

 Feilden as very sheep-like, the old bulls, when present, taking 

 the lead, and the whole assemblage crowding together when 

 alarmed, much after the manner of a flock of sheep. The single 

 calf is produced in May or June and the cows are reported by 

 the natives to breed only once in two years, so that the rate 

 of increase is slow. In summer, according to Mr. Pike, their 

 food consists almost exclusively of the leaves of the small wil- 

 lows scattered here and there over the Barren Grounds, but grass, 

 moss and lichens are also largely consumed, and in winter these 

 two last, with perhaps bark, must form their sole nutriment. 

 In spite of their comparatively short and massive limbs, musk oxen 

 can run with considerable speed; and when thoroughly alarmed 

 they are stated to take to hilly ground, where they display 

 marvellous agility in climbing precipitous cliffs. In spite of stories 

 to the opposite effect, Mr. Pike is of opinion that even old bulls 

 are by no means dangerous animals."* 



American Buffalo 



Bison bison (Linnaeus) 



Length. \ \ feet (adult bull). Height at shoulder, 5 feet, 8 inches. 



Description. Hind quarters light and short haired, fore quarters very 

 heavy, with a high hump on the shoulders, and densely haired; 

 head held well down below the level of the shoulders; horns 

 curved outward, upward; tail with a terminal tassel. Colour, 

 body and hind quarters pale gray brown, lower parts dark brown, 

 shoulders, hump and upper neck covered with a dense mass 

 of yellowish hair; head, lower part of neck and fore legs to 

 the knees with dense shaggy hair, dark brown above and 

 black lower down. 



Range. Originally Great Slave Lake to northern Mexico, New 

 Mexico and Nevada; eastward south of the Great Lakes to 

 central Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia and Mississippi. 



In i8jo. Great Slave Lake to Wyoming and central Texas, 



eastward to central South Dakota, Kansas and Indian Territory. 



In 1880. About 550 in the extreme Northwest; 250 in 



Montana, Dakota and Wyoming, and 50 in Colorado and 



Indian Territory.! 



* Lydekker's " Wild Oxen, Sheep and Goats." 

 t From Hornaday. 



66 



