THE PENNED MONARCH 27f5 



great herds but their bleached bones scattered far 

 and wide over the plains. 



In looking at the caged specimen in Vancouver 

 Park, one could readily believe the excitement the 

 buffalo afforded to the Indians and early settlers. 

 The strongly shaped body is set on sinewy, powerful 

 limbs. The shoulders rise broad and hog-backed 

 above the massive head, capable of enormous charge 

 in aggression, or withstanding a fierce assault. The 

 horns surmounting the bull-shaped head, short and 

 sharp, comprise a weapon which no hide could resist. 

 A lion's strength indefinitely magnified seems to be 

 embodied in the creature which watches one sus- 

 piciously with its black eyes overshadowed with a 

 matted mane of thick short curls. 



As long as the North American Indians had no 

 weapons more formidable than the bow and arrow, 

 the decimation of the buffalo was impossible. The 

 introduction of the muzzle-loading gun and rifle was 

 not in itself calculated to effect rapid extermination, 

 but combined with skilfully organized methods, de- 

 struction proceeded at a more alarming rate. Then 

 came the improved rifle and with it the doom of the fine 

 beasts was sealed. A fresh impetus was given to the 

 butchery by traffic in buffalo hides. The coin given 

 in exchange was at first nothing more than the fiery 

 liquor vended by unscrupulous traders. A cupful of 

 this was the price paid for a well-dressed buffalo robe. 

 The infatuation of the Indian tribes for this beverage 



