168 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



In a very interesting and well-considered article in ' The 

 Field,' of November 10th, 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 

 Eiver 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 bands." 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. 



1 The doctor also quoted Mr. Frank Oliver, of Edmonton, to 

 the effect that the wood Buffalo still exists in small numbers 

 between the Lower Peace and Great Slave Eivers, extending 

 westward from the latter to the Salt River a latitude 60 degrees, 

 and also between the Peace and Athabasca Eivers. He states 

 that " they are larger than the prairie Buffalo, and the fur is 

 darker, but practically they are the same animal." .... Some 

 Buffalo meat is brought in every winter to the Hudson's Bay 

 Company's posts nearest the Buffalo ranges. 



* Dr. Schulz further stated that he had received the following 

 testimony from Mr. Donald Eoss, of Edmonton: — The wood 

 Buffalo still exists in the localities named. About 1870 one was 

 killed as far west on Peace Eiver as Fort Dun vegan. They are 

 quite different from the prairie Buffalo, being nearly double the 

 size, as they will dress fully 700 pounds.' 



It will be apparent to most observers, I think, that Mr. Boss's 

 statement in regard to the size of the wood Buffalo is a random 

 shot. 



In a private letter to the writer, under date of October 22nd, 

 1887, Mr. Harrison S. Young, of the Hudson's Bay Company's 

 post at Edmonton, writes as follows : — 



1 The Buffalo are not yet extinct in the north-west. There 

 are still some stray ones on the prairies away to the south of this, 

 but they must be very few. I am unable to find anyone who has 



