APPENDIX. 231 



musicians playing violins, flutes, and hautboys in front, the fortunate hunter 

 proudly marching with his gun on his shoulder, and the animal swinging 

 from poles thrust through between its tied feet, followed by the crowd, sing- 

 ing and rejoicing at the prospect of good and hearty fare. The animal was 

 quickly skinned and dressed on its arrival at the town, and for several days 

 there was feasting, as the first and last buffalo of Gallipolis was served up 

 in such a variety of ways and means as none but the French could devise ; 

 Charles Francis Duteil remaining until his death the renowned marksman 

 who killed the first and last buffalo of all the emigrants from France who 

 settled the town of Gallipolis." 



Mr. Graham adds that he has "no information that can be relied upon 

 of buffalo being killed in Ohio after the year 1795 or 1796." In a later 

 letter he says, "From all that I know of the early settlement and history 

 of the West, I am under the impression that the buffalo disappeared from 

 Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky about the year 1800." 



The Bison seen by Cortes in the City of Mexico. — According to De Solis, Cortes 

 found specimens of the bison in Mexico, among the wonderfully varied pos- 

 sessions of Montezuma. In describing the animals in Montezuma's menagerie, 

 De Solis says : " In the second Square of the same House were the Wild 

 Beasts, which were either presents to Montezuma, or taken by his Hunters, 

 in strong Cages of Timber, rang'd in good Order and under Cover: Lions, 

 Tygers, Bears, and all others of the savage Kind which New-Spain produe'd ; 

 among which, the greatest Rarity was the Mexican Bull ; a wonderful Compo- 

 sition of divers Animals: It has crooked Shoulders, with a Bunch on its Back 

 like a Camel; its Flanks dry, its Tail large, and its Neck cover d with Hair 

 like a Lion : It is cloven footed, its Head armed like that of a Bull, which it 

 resembles in Fierceness, with no less Strength and Agility."* These captive 

 individuals appear to have been the first specimens of the American Bison 

 seen by Europeans. 



Specimens of the Bison taken alive to Spain prior /o.155S. — According to The- 

 vet, living specimens of the bison were taken to Spain prior to 1558, of one 

 of which Thevet claims to have seen the skin.f 



* De Solis's (Antonio de) History of the Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. Town end's English 

 translation (London, 1724). Book III, Chap. XIV, p. 76. 



t " Lon en aruena tine fois deux tous vift en Espagne, de 1'un desquels j'ay veu la peau & non autre 

 chose, & n'y peurent vivre long temps." — Zes Singularitez de la France anlarctique, etc.. p. 144. 



