58 ' THE AMERICAS BISONS 



foreheads are protected. At this season the bulls become lean, but regain 

 their flesh again in autumn, when they are usually in the best condition. 

 The cows, on the other hand, as well as the yearlings and two-year-olds, are 

 generally fattest in June. 



In respect to the degree of maternal affection possessed by the buffalo cow 

 there seems to be a wide range of opinion among observers. Some deny 

 that the mother has any affection for its offspring, stuting that when fright- 

 ened the buffalo cow will abandon her calf without the slightest hesitation. 

 On the other hand, others report her as being not only constantly vigilant in 

 the care of her young, but bold in its defence. Colonel Dodge, indeed, states 

 that the duty of protecting the calves devolves wholly upon the bulls. He 

 says: '• I have seen evidences of this many times, but the most remarkable 

 instance I have ever heard of was related to me by an army surgeon, who 

 was an eyewitness. He was one evening returning to camp, after a day's 

 hunt, when his attention was attracted by the curious action of a little knot 

 of six or eight buffaloes. Approaching sufficiently near to see clearly, he dis- 

 covered that this little knot were all bulls, standing in a close circle with 

 their heads outward, while in a concentric circle at some twelve or fifteen 

 pares distant sat licking their chops in impatient expectancy, at least a dozen 

 large gray wolves, excepting man, the mo-si dangerous enemy of the buffalo. 

 The Doctor determined to watch the performance. After a few moments the 

 knot broke up, still keeping in a compact ina^s. and started on a trot for the 

 main herd, some half a mile oil'. To his very great astonishment the Doc- 

 tor now saw that the central and controlling figure of this mass was a poor 

 little calf, so newly born as scarcely to be able to walk. After going (ill \ or 

 a hundred yards the calf lay down. The bulls disposed themselves in a cir- 

 cle SS before, ami the wolves, who had trotted along on each tlank of their 

 retreating supper, sat down and licked their chops again. This was repeated 

 again and again, ami although the Doctor did not see thejhutle (it being late, 

 and the camp distant), he had no doubt thai the noble fathers did their 

 whole duty by their offspring, and carried it safely to the herd."* 



Audubon states, on the contrary, that the cow does not at such times 

 deserl its young, but tries to defend it.t which statement is confirmed b\ 

 many plainsmen and hunters who are thoroughly conversanl with the habits 

 ..f the buffalo. 



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