374 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



the delta of the Mississippi, from whence he wandered westward through 

 what is now the State of Texas. In southeastern Texas he discovered 

 the American bison on his native heath. So far as can be ascertained, 

 this was the earliest discovery of the bison in a wild state, and the 

 description of the species as recorded by the explorer is of historical 

 interest. It is brief and superficial. The unfortunate explorer took 

 very little interest in animated nature, except as it contributed to the 

 sum of his daily food, which was then the all-important subject of his 

 thoughts. He almost starved. This is all he has to say : * 



"Cattle come as far as this. I have seen them three times, and 

 eaten of their meat. I think they are about the size of those in Spain. 

 They have small horns like those of Morocco, and the hair long and 

 flocky, like that of the merino. Some are light brown (pardillas) and 

 others black. To my judgment the flesh is finer and sweeter than that 

 of this country [Spain]. The Indians make blankets of those that are 

 not full grown, and of the larger they make shoes and bucklers. They 

 come as far as the sea-coast of Florida [now Texas], and in a direction 

 from the north, and range over a district of more than 400 leagues. In 

 the whole extent of plain over which they roam, the people who live 

 bordering upon it descend and kill them for food, and thus a great many 

 skins are scattered throughout the country." 



Goronado was the next explorer who penetrated the country of the 

 buffalo, which he accomplished from the west, by way of Arizona and 

 New Mexico. He crossed the southern part of the " Panhandle" of 

 Texas, to the edge of what is now the Indian Territory, and returned 

 through the same region. It was in the year 1542 that he reached the 

 buffalo country, and traversed the plains that were " full of crooke- 

 backed oxen, as the mountaine Serena in Spaine is of sheepe." This is 

 the description of the animal as recorded by one of his followers, Casta- 

 fieda, and translated by W. W. Davis : t 



" The first time we encountered the buffalo, all the horses took to 

 flight on seeing them, for they are horrible to the sight." 



" They have a broad and short face, eyes two palms from each other, 

 and projecting in such a manner sideways that they can see a pursuer. 

 Their beard is like that of goats, and so long that it drags the ground 

 when they lower the head. They have, on the anterior portion of the 

 body, a frizzled hair like sheep's wool ; it is very fine upon the croup, 

 and sleek like a lion's mane. Their horns are very short and thick, and 

 can scarcely be seen through the hair. They always change their hair 

 in May, and at this season they really resemble lions. To make it drop 

 more quickly, for they change it as adders do their skins, they roll 

 among the brush- wood which they find in the ravines. 



" Their tail is very short, and terminates in a great tuft. When they 

 run they carry it in the air like scorpions. When quite young they are 



* Davis' Spanish Conquest of New Mexico. 1869. P. 67. 



tThe Spanish Conquest of New Mexico. Davis. 1869. Pp. 206-7. 



