118 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Next to the buffalo, the elk (Cervus Canadensis) was the largest 

 and finest native animal. It was formerly exceedingly abundant 

 and is still often found in the northern and western portions of the 

 State. Never shall I forget the magnificent herds of elk that 

 crossed my path on the Niobrara and Elkhorn in 1866 and 1867* 

 Their bulky bodies, huge antlers, and numbers, made them a pic- 

 ture never to be forgotten. 



Four species of deer were formerly found here, and two of them 

 very abundantly. These were the common deer {Cervus Virgin- 

 ianus), the white tailed deer (C. leucrus), the mule deer (C macro- 

 tis), and the blacktailed deer (C. columbianus). The first and the 

 last of this list were the most abundant, at least those are the species, 

 that I have most frequently seen myself roaming the prairies, and 

 whose skins most frequently found their way to the traders. The 

 special habitat of the black tailed deer was north Nebraska, and 

 especially the Niobrara region. 



Next to the buffalo in numbers comes the Pronghorn Antelope 

 {Anlilocapra Americana). It was formerly common to meet these 

 on the prairie in herds of from twenty to five hundred. Only a 

 few years ago it was yet common to meet herds of hundreds of 

 these beautiful and graceful animals in central and western Ne- 

 braska. They are now mostly confined to the northern and west- 

 ern portions of the State. The antelope remains abundant after the 

 buffalo and elk are gone, and when but few deer remain, and yet 

 the last of them disappear before the deer is entirely exter- 

 minated from a district. The antelope is more disposed to go in 

 herds than the deer; it frequently brings forth two at a birth, and 

 while buffalo, elk and deer last they are often passed by, by fron- 

 tiersmen. Their natural curiosity makes them an easy prey. It is 

 well known that they will go close to a white covered wagon, or 

 to a rag stuck on a ramrod in the ground, to ascertain what it is. 

 The hunter, concealed in the grass, or behind or on one side of his 

 wagon, easily secures one. 



Bears have probably always been rare in the State. I have met 

 but one in all mv explorations in the unsettled portions. That one 

 was on the Niobrara, and a black one (Ursus Americanus). I have 

 also been reliably informed bv old settlers that one was killed in 

 the early history of Otoe County, on the Missouri bottom. I have 

 been told bv Indians that the cinnamon bear was formerly occasion- 

 all v found on the Niobrara, but I regard this as doubtful. 



