THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 539 



tant there rose a lofty conical butte about 600 feet high, which forms 

 a very conspicuous landmark from the south. We were told that it was 

 visible from 40 miles down the Porcupine. Strange to say, this valua- 

 ble landmark was without a name, so far as we could learn; so, for our 

 own convenience, we christened it Smithsonian Butte. 



The two buffalo cows that Mr. McNaney killed just before we moved 

 our camp seemed to be the last in the country, for during the following 

 week we scouted for 15 miles in three directions, north, east, and south, 

 without finding as much as a hoof-print. At last we decided to go 

 away and give that country absolute quiet for a week, in the hope that 

 some more buffalo would come into it. Leaving McCanna and West 

 to take care of the camp, we loaded a small assortment of general 

 equipage into the wagon and pulled about 25 miles due west to the Mus- 

 selshell Eiver. 



We found a fine stream of clear water, flowing over sand and pebbles, 

 with heavy cottonwood timber and thick copses of willow aloug its 

 banks, which afforded cover for white-tailed cleer. In the rugged 

 brakes, which led from the level river bottom into a labyrinth of ravines 

 and gullies, ridges and hog-backs, up to the level of the high plateau 

 above, we found a scanty growth of stunted cedars and pines, which 

 once sheltered great numbers of mule deer, elk, and bear. Now, how- 

 ever, few remain, and these are very hard to find. Even when found, 

 the deer are nearly always young. Although we killed five mule deer 

 and five white-tails, we did not kill even one fine buck, and the 

 only one we saw on the whole trip was a long distance off. We saw 

 fresh tracks of elk, and also grizzly bear, but our most vigorous efforts 

 to discover the animals themselves always ended in diappointment. 

 The many bleaching skulls and antlers of elk and deer, which we found 

 everywhere we went, afforded proof of what that country had been as 

 a home for wild animals only a few years ago. We were not a little 

 surprised at finding the fleshless carcasses of three head of cattle that 

 had been killed and eaten by bears within a few months. 



In addition to ten deer, we shot three wild geese, seven sharp-tailed 

 grouse, eleven sage grouse, nine Bohemian waxwings, and a magpie, 

 for their skeletons. We made one trip of several miles up the Mussel- 

 shell, and another due west, almost to the Bull Mountains, but no signs 

 of buffalo were found. The weather at this time was quite cold, the 

 thermometer registering 6 degrees below zero; but, in spite of the fact 

 that we were without shelter and had to bivouac in the open, we were, 

 generally speaking, quite comfortable. 



Having found no buffalo by the 17th, we felt convinced that we ought 

 to return to our permanent camp, and did so on that day. Having 

 brought back nearly half a wagon-load of specimens in the flesh or half 

 skinned, it was absolutely necessary that I should remain at camp all 

 the next day. While I did so, Messrs. McNaney and Boyd rode over 



