THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 523 



on foot in Colorado, in a region called Lost Park, and, while it lacks 

 confirmation, we gladly accept it as a fact. In 18S8 Mr. 0. B. Cory, of 

 Boston, saw in Denver, Colorado, eight fresh buffalo skins, which it was 

 said had come from the region named above. In 1885 there was a herd 

 of about forty "mountain buffalo" near South Park, and although some 

 of the number may still survive, the indications are that the total num- 

 ber of wild buffaloes in Colorado does not exceed twenty individuals. 



In Texas a miserable remnant of the great southern herd still remains 

 in the "Pan-handle country," between the two forks of the Canadian 

 River. In 1886 about two hundred head survived, which number by 

 the summer of 1887 had been reduced to one hundred, or less. In the 

 hunting season of 1887-88 a ranchman named Lee Howard fitted out 

 and led a strong party into the haunts of the survivors, and killed fifty- 

 two of them. In May, 1888, Mr. C. J. Jones. again visited this region 

 for the purpose of capturing buffaloes alive. His party found, from first 

 to last, thirty- seven buffaloes, of which they captured eighteen head, 

 eleven adult cows and seven calves; the greatest feat ever accomplished 

 in buffalo-hunting. It is highly probable that Mr. Jones and his men 

 saw about all the buffaloes now living in the Pan-handle country, and 

 it therefore seems quite certain that not over twenty five individuals 

 remain. These are so few, so remote, and so difficult to reach, it is to 

 be hoped no one will consider them worth going after, and that they 

 will be left to take care of themselves. It is greatly to be regretted 

 that the State of Texas does not feel disposed to make a special effort 

 for their protection and preservation. 



In regard to the existence of wild buffaloes in the British Possessions, 

 the statements of different authorities are at variance, by far the larger 

 number holding the opinion that there are in all the Northwest Terri- 

 tory only a few almost solitary stragglers. But there is still good 

 reason for the hope, and also the belief, that there still remain in Atha- 

 basca, between the Athabasca and Peace Rivers, at least a few hun- 

 dred " wood buffalo." In a very interesting and well-considered article 

 in the London Field of November 10, 1888, Mr. Miller Christy quotes 

 all the available positive evidence bearing on this point, and I gladly 

 avail myself of the opportunity to reproduce it here : 



"The Hon. Dr. Schulz, in the recent debate on the Mackenzie River 

 basin, in the Canadian senate, quoted Senator Hardisty, of Edmonton, 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company, to the effect that the wood buffalo still 

 existed in the region in question. ' It was,' he said, ' difficult to estimate 

 how many; but probably five or six hundred still remain in scattered 

 bauds.' There had been no appreciable difference in their numbers, he 

 thought, during the last fifteen years, as they could not be hunted on 

 horseback, on account of the wooded character of the country, and were, 

 therefore, very little molested. They are larger than the buffalo of the 

 great plains, weighing at least 150 pounds more. They are also coarser 

 haired and straighter horned. 



