THE LIFE OF MAMMALS 
fall when climate and pasturage compelled annual migratory 
movements, particularly in the north. Ordinarily, however, 
these vast assemblages were much scattered, and the bands 
composing them had a habit of keeping each by itself, and 
moving in single file, so that in the early days the plains were 
marked by innumerable paths worn by their feet, especially 
distinct where leading to and from watering places or fords, or 
EE rae 
a 
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GRAPHIC HISTORY OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 
over mountain passes; and the early “pathfinders” of the 
Rockies had nothing to do but follow them. The speed and 
agility of these heavy beasts (an old bull would weigh a ton) 
were astonishing; *® they also swam well, and the present 
writer ** has seen scores of them crossing the upper Missouri 
by swimming. Another interesting feature of this animal was 
its harmlessness. It never, or rarely, charged, and hunters on 
foot or on horseback entered the herds, and approached solitary 
and even wounded bulls, with no more than ordinary precau- 
250 
