298 AN AMERICAN HUNTER 



because of the springy, bounding grace of its trot and 

 canter, and the way it carries its head and white flag 

 aloft. 



Before reaching the Mammoth Hot Springs we also 

 saw a number of ducks in the little pools and on the 

 Gardiner. Some of them were rather shy. Others 

 probably those which, as Major Pitcher informed me, 

 had spent the winter there were as tame as barn-yard 

 fowls. 



Just before reaching the post the Major took me into 

 the big field where Buffalo Jones had some Texas and 

 Flathead Lake buffalo bulls and cows which he was 

 tending with solicitous care. The original stock of buf; 

 falo in the Park have now been reduced to fifteen or 

 twenty individuals, and their blood is being recruited by 

 the addition of buffalo purchased out of the Flathead 

 Lake and Texas Panhandle herds. The buffalo were at 

 first put within a wire fence, which, when it was built, 

 was found to have included both blacktail and whitetail 

 deer. A bull elk was also put in with them at one time, 

 he having met with some accident which made the Major 

 and Buffalo Jones bring him in to doctor him. When 

 he recovered his health he became very cross. Not only 

 would he attack men, but also buffalo, even the old and 

 surly master bull, thumping them savagely with his ant- 

 lers if they did anything to which he objected. The 

 buffalo are now breeding well. 



When I reached the post and dismounted at the Ma- 

 jor's house, I supposed my experiences with wild beasts 

 were ended for the day; but this was an error. The 



