174 THE AMERICAN BISONS. 



herds, followed by the Sioux Indians. This migration seems to have ceased 

 before about the 20th of July, when they were confined to the limits 

 stated mi the map,* and remained so till we left the country, in September. 

 The Sweet Grass Hills form their centre in the vicinity of the Line. The 

 pasture is good, and the region is besides a sort of neutral ground among the 

 Indian tribes. We saw abundant traces of the passage of great herds in 

 spring on the upper brandies of Milk River, and they come in to the foot of 

 the Rock}' Mountains. I do not think they ever cross the mountains in the 

 vicinity of the forty-ninth parallel, though I have ^ecn their bones as far up 

 the South Kootanie Pass as the last grassy meadow." 



On the map referred to in the above-given letter, and reproduced in the 

 adjoiningwood-cut.it will be seen that a line drawn along Frenchman's Creek 

 or White' Mud River is given as the eastern limit of the present range of the 

 buffalo, while the region a little to the west of this line is marked as the 

 district where "great herds" were seen -going north in June." The line 

 drawn parallel to the Little Souris River, and about forty miles to the west- 

 ward of it, following the Coteau de Missouri, is given as the '•approximate 

 eastern limit of ' buffalo chips.'" 



In addition to the information contained in Professor Dawson's letter. I 

 find the following in his recent -Report on the Geology and Resources of the 

 Region in the Vicinity of the Forty-ninth Parallel," etc.: "From what I 

 could learn," says Professor Dawson. •• 1 believe that, at the present rate of 

 extermination, twelve to fourteen year- will see the destruction of what now 

 remains of the great northern band of buffalo, and the termination of the 

 trade in robes and peniican. in mi far OS regards the country north of the 

 Missouri River."t 



Present Range of the Northern Herd. — From the foregoing it appears that 

 what may he termed the -Teat Northern Herd of buffaloes ranges from the 

 principal southern tributaries of the Yellowstone northward over a large 

 part, of Montana, far into British North America, extending northward. 

 doubtless, to the wooded region of the Athabasca and Peace Rivers, To 

 the westward, north of the United State-, buffaloes still range to the base of 

 tie- Rocky Mountains, though doubtless Bomewhal irregularly, and usually 



«ride, situated on both ridei of the 1 1 lth meridian, bal lying mainly 

 between the lllili ami 1 1 2th meridians, and stretching northward towards the South Saskatchewan. 



t 1!. porl "ii tin- Geologj ami Resources of the Region in Ihi \ ii initj "f the Forty-ninth Parallel, etc., 

 1875, |> 



