434 EEPOET OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



"The doctor determined to watch the performance. After a few mo. 

 ments the knot broke up, and, still keeping in a compact mass, started 

 on a trot for the main herd, some half a mile off. To his very great as- 

 tonishment, the doctor now saw that the central and controlling figure 

 of this mass was a poor little calf so newly born as scarcely to be able 

 to walk. After going 50 or 100 paces the calf laid down, the bulls dis- 

 posed themselves in a circle as before, and the wolves, who had trotted 

 along on each side of their retreating supper, sat down and licked their 

 chaps again ; and though the doctor did not see the finale, it being late 

 and the camp distant, he had no doubt that the noble fathers did their 

 whole duty by their offspring, and carried it safely to the herd." 



(6) Temper. — I have asked many old buffalo hunters for facts in re- 

 gard to the temper and disposition of herd buffaloes, and all agree that 

 they are exceedingly quiet, peace-loving, and even indolent animals at 

 all times save during the rutting season. Says Colonel Dodge: "The 

 habits of the buffalo are almost identical with those of the domestic 

 cattle. Owing either to a more pacific disposition, or to the greater 

 number of bulls, there is very little fighting, even at the season when it 

 might be expected. I have been among them for days, have watched 

 their conduct for hours at a time, and with the very best opportunities 

 for observation, but have never seen a regular combat between bulls. 

 They frequently strike each other with their horns, but this seems to be 

 a mere expression of impatience at being crowded." 



In referring to the " running season" of the buffalo, Mr. Catlin says: 

 "It is no uncommon thing at this season, at these gatherings, to see 

 several thousands in a mass eddying and wheeling about under a cloud 

 of dust, which is raised by the bulls as they are pawing in the dirt, or 

 engaged in desperate combats, as they constantly are, plunging and 

 butting at each other in a most furious manner." 



On the whole, the disposition of the buffalo is anything but vicious. 

 Both sexes yield with surprising readiness to the restraints of captivity, 

 and in a remarkably short time become, if taken young, as fully domes- 

 ticated as ordinary cattle. Buffalo calves are as easily tamed as domestic 

 ones, and make very interesting pets. A prominent trait of character 

 in the captive buffalo is a mulish obstinacy or headstrong perseverance 

 under certain circumstances that is often very annoying. When a buf- 

 falo makes up his mind to go through a fence, he is very apt to go 

 through, either peacably or by force, as occasion requires. Fortunately, 

 however, the captive animals usually accept a fence in the proper spirit, 

 and treat it with a fair degree of respect. 



VIII. Value of the Buffalo to Man. 



It may fairly be supposed that if the people of this country could have 

 been made to realize the immense money value of the great buffalo 

 herds as they existed in 1870, a vigorous and successful effort would 

 have been made to regulate and restrict the slaughter. The fur 



