Geographical Distribution 153 



vast wilderness; traversing plains, pouring through the in- 

 tricate defiles of mountains, swimming rivers, ever on the 

 move. . . . These great migratory herds of buffalo have their 

 hereditary paths and highways, worn deep through the coun- 

 try, and making for the surest passes of the mountains, and 

 the most practicable fords of the rivers. When once a great 

 column is in full career, it goes straight forward, regardless 

 of all obstacles; those in front being impelled by the moving 

 mass behind. At such times they will break through a camp, 

 trampling down everything in their course. 



"It was the lot of the voyagers, one night, to encamp at 

 one of these buffalo landing places, and exactly on the trail. 

 They had not been long asleep when they were awakened by 

 a great bellowing, and tramping, and the rush, and splash, 

 and snorting of animals in the river. They had just time 

 to ascertain that a buffalo army was entering the river on 

 the opposite side and making toward the landing place. With 

 all haste they moved their boat and shifted their camp, by 

 which time the head of the column had reached the shore, 

 and came pressing up the bank. 



"It was a singular spectacle, by the uncertain moonlight, 

 to behold this countless throng making their way across the 

 river, blowing and bellowing, and splashing. Sometimes they 

 pass in such dense and continuous column as to form a tem- 

 porary dam across the river, the waters of which rise and 

 rush over their backs, or between their squadrons. The roar- 

 ing and rushing sound of one of these vast herds crossing 

 a river, may sometimes in a still night be heard for miles. ' ' 1 



The common house rat is sometimes a wide traveler. "Mi- 

 grations of rats have often been recorded. Pallas narrates 

 that in the autumn of 1727 the brown rat arrived at Astra- 

 khan in southern Russia from the east in such numbers and 

 in so short a time that nothing could be done to oppose them. 

 They crossed the Volga in large troops. The cause of the mi- 

 gration was attributed to an earthquake; but since similar 

 movements of this species often occur unattended by earth 

 disturbance, it is probable that only the food problem was 

 involved in the migration which first brought the brown rat 

 to Europe. 



"In nearly all countries a seasonal movement of rats from 

 houses and barns to the open fields occurs in spring, and 

 the return movement takes place as cold weather approaches. 

 The movement is noticeable even in large cities. 



"But more general movements of rats often occur. In 

 1903 a multitude of migrating rats spread over several coun- 



1 Irving, "The Adventures of Captain Bonneville," IT. S. A., p. 354. 

 By permission of G. P. Putnam's Sons. 



