418 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



surrounded by a throng of thirsty, heated, and eager buffaloes of all ages, 

 to which the oldest and strongest asserted claims of priority. There 

 was much crowding and some fighting, but eventually all were satis- 

 fied. After such a long journey to water, a herd would usually remain 

 by it for some hours, lying down, resting, and drinking at intervals 

 until completely satisfied. 



Having drunk its fill, the herd would never march directly back to 

 the choice feeding grounds it had just left, but instead would leisurely 

 stroll off at a right angle from the course it came, cropping for awhile 

 the rich bunch grasses of the bottom-lands, and then wauder across the 

 hills in an almost aimless search for fresh fields and pastures new. 

 When buffaloes remained long in a certain locality it was a common 

 thing for them to visit the same watering-place a number of times, at 

 intervals of greater or less duration, according to circumstances. 



When undisturbed on his chosen range, the bison used to be fond of 

 lying down for an hour or two in the middle of the day, particularly 

 when fine weather and good grass combined to encourage him in lux- 

 urious habits. I once discovered with the field glass a small herd of 

 buffaloes lying down at midday on the slope of a high ridge, and hav- 

 ing ridden hard for several hours we seized the opportunity to unsaddle 

 and give our horses an hour's rest before making the attack. While we 

 were so doing, the herd got up, shifted its position to the opposite side 

 of the ridge, and again laid down, every buffalo with his nose pointing 

 to windward. 



Old hunters declare that in the days of their abundance, when feed- 

 ing on their ranges in fancied security, the younger animals were as 

 playful as well-fed domestic calves. It was a common thing to see 

 them cavort and frisk around with about as much grace as young ele- 

 phants, prancing and running to and fro with tails held high in air "like 

 scorpions." 



Buffaloes are very fond of rolling in dry dirt or even in mud, and this 

 habit is quite strong in captive animals. Not only is it indulged in 

 during the shedding season, but all through the fall and winter. The 

 two live buffaloes in the National Museum are so much given to rolling, 

 even in rainy weather, that it is necessary to card them every few days 

 to keep them presentable. 



Bulls are much more given to rolling than the cows, especially after 

 they have reached maturity. They stretch out at full length, rub their 

 heads violently to and fro on the ground, in which the horn serves as 

 the chief point of contact and slides over the ground like a sled-run- 

 ner. After thoroughly scratching one side on mother earth they roll 

 over and treat the other in like manner. Notwithstanding his sharp 

 and lofty hump, a buffalo bull can roll completely over with as much 

 ease as any horse. 



The vast amount of rolling and side-scratching on the earth indulged 

 in by bull buffaloes is shown in the worn condition of the horns of 



