THE AMERICAN BISONS. 101 



when three were killed from a herd of ten old bulls that had wandered con- 

 siderably to the eastward of the main herds. According to Dr. W. J. Hoff- 

 man, to whom I am indebted for other interesting facts relating to the sub- 

 ject of the present paper, the buffaloes disappeared from the region between 

 the Cheyenne and Grand River Agencies at about the same time (1869), 

 although occasional stragglers frequented the plains toward the Black Hills 

 till somewhat later. He states that fresh hides were brought into the Grand 

 River Agency in 1872, that were obtained about one hundred miles to the 

 westward of that place.* Dr. Hayden also informs me that a few were found 

 until a few years since south of the Black Hills, on the sources of the Nio- 

 brara and Cheyenne Rivers, from which localities they have, however, been 

 since exterminated. 



As already stated, they were abundant about Fort Union at the mouth of 

 the Yellowstone, in 1853, and for some distance below this point west of the 

 Missouri, where they remained for some years later. Dr. Hayden informs 

 me that they were abundant there as late as 1859, and that even as late as 

 1806 they occupied much of the country between Fort Union and Fort Pierre. 

 In 1861 Dr. Hayden published the following general statement in relation 

 to the range of the buffalo at that time on the Upper Missouri. "They oc- 

 cur," he says, "in large bands in the valley of the Yellowstone River, and in 

 the Blackfoot country, but their numbers are annually decreasing at a rapid 

 rate. Descending the Yellowstone in the summer of 1854, from the Crow 

 country, we were not out of sight of large herds for a distance of 400 miles. 

 .... In 1850 they were seen as low down on the Missouri River as the Ver- 

 milion, and in 1854 a few were killed near Fort Pierre. But at the present 

 time (1861) they seldom pass below the 47th parallel on the Missouri. Every 

 year, as we ascend the river, we can observe that they are retiring nearer 

 and nearer to the mountainous portions." f 



General W. F. Raynolds, in passing from Fort Pierre westward in July, 

 1859, says that the whole country, for one hundred and forty miles, was a 

 dry, desolate tract, a few antelopes forming the only living things met 

 with; "but buffaloes," he says, "have evidently been here, and may return 

 at more favorable seasons of the year. Six bulls were seen to-day in the 

 distance, as we drove into camp, being our first sight of the famous ' lords 

 of the prairie.' We are now approaching the Black Hills, however, and will 



* In n letter dated April 16, 1S75. 



t Transact. Amer. Phil. Sue, Vol. XII, 2d Series, p. lju. 



