1890.] The American Bison of the Future. 789 
“superfluous on the stage,” left all alone. It would be a modern 
incongruity, not an instance. 
From the generally apparent characteristics and qualities of the 
species, the sympathizer would entertain—regretfully entertain— 
a decided negative. Yet often when there is least expectation 
hope revives. . 
The buffalo has had, even during all that destruction-dealing 
process, before his death throes, observers who.have, incidentally 
it would appear, recorded a certain number of facts about their, 
too noble prey, which are now positively encouraging to us. 
For instance, for an animal regarded to be an embodiment of mam- 
malian ferocity, it would appear incredible that such an animal 
should have any inherent traits of gentility or docility. But such 
is, indeed, the fact. In his experiences with his bitter foe, as fore- 
stated, ere the latter days of his regal existence,—before the 
knowledge of that foe's contiguity engendered an idea of a 
danger to flee from, which became an instinct and thence an 
hereditary transmission,—he was indifferent, even disdainful, of 
the feeling of his comrades at his side; proud, confident in the 
midst of the great horde that, unaffected still, stood its ground. 
During that period there are numerous records of calves which, in 
the hunt or onslaught, having been left behind or become sepa- 
rated from the main body, and particularly from their own dams, 
were very easily, by simple means, attached to the destroyer of 
his maternal and paternal mainstay, and “blindly” following at 
the heels of the man-horse murderer, with all the same signs of 
affection they would show to their own dams. That trait was, 
surely, a strong one, indicating a strong nature or disposition, 
shaped and controlled in the most pronounced manner by envir- 
onment; just as sure in captivity to be influenced by the subdu- 
ing, gentling power of man when exerted on an immediate object 
and with certain kind solicitude, which was fully reciprocated in 
4 that object, as in nature to be influenced by the overcoming 
fierce, instincts of free environment, when that was provocative 
of suspicion and antagonism to their worst, latterly forced-on-them, 
natural enemy. Such calf-disposition was a strange concomi- 
tant; and for us it isa starting-point in that which makes us hope. 
. 
