THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 425 



So long as the bison held undisputed possession of the great plains 

 his migratory habits were as above — regular, general, and on a scale 

 that was truly grand. The herds that wintered in Texas, the Indian 

 Territory, and New Mexico probably spent their summers in Nebraska, 

 southwestern Dakota, and Wyoming. The winter herds of northern 

 Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and southern Dakota went to northern 

 Dakota and Montana, while the great Montana herds spent the summer 

 on the Grand Coteau des Prairies lying between the Saskatchewan and 

 the Missouri. The two great annual expeditions of the Red River half- 

 breeds, which always took place in summer, went in two directions from 

 Winnipeg and Pembina — one, the White Horse Plain division, going 

 westward along the Qu'Appelle to the Saskatchewan country, and the 

 other, the Red River division, southwest into Dakota. In 1840 the site 

 of the present city of Jamestown, Dakota, was the northeastern limit 

 of the herds that summered in Dakota, and the country lying between 

 that point and the Missouri was for years the favorite hunting ground 

 of the Red River division. 



The herds which wintered on the Montana ranges always went north 

 in the early spring, usually in March, so that during the time the hunt- 

 ers were hauling in the hides taken on the winter hunt the ranges were 

 entirely deserted. It is equally certain, however, that a few small bands 

 remained in certain portions of Montana throughout the summer. But 

 the main body crossed the international boundary, and spent the sum- 

 mer on the plains of the Saskatchewan, where they were hunted by the 

 half-breeds from the Red River settlements and the Indians of the 

 plains. It is my belief that in this movement nearly all the buffaloes 

 of Montana and Dakota participated, and that the herds which spent 

 the summer in Dakota, where they were annually hunted by the Red 

 River half-breeds, came up from Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. 



While most of the calves were born on the summer ranges, many were 

 brought forth en route. It was the habit of the cows to retire to a 

 secluded spot, if possible a ravine well screened from observation, bring 

 forth their young, and nourish and defend them until they were strong 

 enough to join the herd. Calves were born all the time from March to 

 July, and sometimes even as late as August. On the summer ranges it 

 was the habit of the cows to leave the bulls at calving time, and thus it 

 often happened that small herds were often seen composed of bulls only. 

 Usually the cow produced but one calf, but twins were not uncommon. 

 Of course many calves were brought forth in the herd, but the favorite 

 habit of the cow was as stated. As soon as the young calves were 

 brought into the herd, which for prudential reasons occurred at the 

 earliest possible moment, the bulls assumed the duty of protecting them 

 from the wolves which at all times congregated in the vicinity of a herd, 

 watching for an opportunity to seize a calf or a wounded buffalo which 

 might be left behind. A calf always follows its mother until its suc- 

 cessor is appointed and installed, unless separated from her by force of 



