422 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



been entirely deserted by buffaloes, not even one remaining. But one 

 morning about daybreak a great herd which was traveling south began 

 to pass their camp. A long line of moving forms was seen advancing 

 rapidly from the northwest, coming in the direction of the hunters' 

 camp. It disappeared in the creek valley for a few moments, and pres- 

 ently the leaders suddenly came in sight again at the top of " a rise " 

 a few hundred yards away, and came down the intervening slope at 

 full speed, within 50 yards of the two tents. After them came a living 

 stream of followers, all going at a gallop, described by the observer as 

 " a loug lope," from four to ten buffaloes abreast. Sometimes there 

 would be a break in the column of a minute's duration, then more buf- 

 faloes would appear at the brow of the hill, and the column went rush- 

 ing by as before. The calves ran with their mothers, and the young 

 stock got over the ground with much less exertion than the older ani- 

 mals. For about four hours, or until past 11 o'clock, did this column of 

 buffaloes gallop past the camp over a course no wider than a village 

 street. Three miles away toward the south the long dark line of bob- 

 bing humps and hind quarters wound to the right between two hills and 

 disappeared. True to their instincts, the hunters promptly brought out 

 their rifles, and began to fire at the buffaloes as they ran. A furious 

 fusilade was kept up from the very doors of the tents, and from first to 

 last over fifty buffaloes were killed. Some fell headlong the instant 

 they were hit, but the greater number ran on until their mortal wounds 

 compelled them to halt, draw off a little way to one side, and finally fall 

 in their death struggles. 



Mr. McKaney stated that the hunters estimated the number of buf- 

 faloes on that portion of the range that winter (1881-'82) at 100,000. 



It is probable, and in fact reasonably certain, that such forced-march 

 migrations as the above were due to snow-covered pastures and a scar- 

 city of food on the more northern ranges. Having learned that a jour- 

 ney south will bring him to regions of less snow and more grass, it is 

 but natural that so lusty a traveler should migrate. The herds or 

 bands which started south in the fall months traveled more leisurely, 

 with frequent halts to graze on rich pastures. The advance was on a 

 very different plan, taking place in straggling lines and small groups 

 dispersed over quite a scope of country. 



Unless closely pursued, the buffalo never chose to make a journey of 

 several miles through hilly country on a continuous run. Even when 

 fleeing from the attack of a hunter, I have often had occasion to notice 

 that, if the hunter was a mile behind, the buffalo would always walk 

 when going uphill ; but as soon as the crest was gained he would begin 

 to run, and go down the slope either at a gallop or a swift trot. In 

 former times, when the buffalo's world was wide, when retreating from 

 an attack he always ran against the wind, to avoid running upon anew 

 danger, which showed that he depended more upon his sense of smell 

 than his eye-sight. During the last years of his existence, however, this 



