20 



HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 



year, they have amply repaid the efforts put 

 forth for their preservation. No one need 

 longer deplore the fact that they were born too 

 late to see the wild game which abounded in 

 this country in the days of their forefathers, 

 because on the Montana Bison Range can be 

 seen fhe same picture of wild life as in former 

 days. Here on "this wonderful game preserve 

 one can travel over the old historic Indian trail 

 and encounter herds of buffalo feeding along 

 the foot-hills, bands of antelope standing like 

 statues curiously watching you or flying like a 

 cloud in the distance, herds of elks high up on 

 the hills, and deer in the open glades or along 

 the creek where the wild ducks nest and gather 

 in great flocks. Here all these creatures can 

 be seen in their primitive wilderness un- 

 restrained and in their natural setting. 



Down near Mission Creek, just below the 

 warden's house, stands a relic of former days. 

 Some years before the Bison Range was 

 established, an Indian built himself a cabin of 

 logs and lived in it until the Reservation was 

 opened for settlement. It is in good condition 

 and should be preserved, as it is of historic 

 value and will be an interesting object to those 

 who visit the Hison Range. It has been, 

 suggested a number of times that it be torn 

 down, but I strongly urged Mr Hodges to pre- 

 serve it and use it for storing and exhibiting 

 such curiosities as might be found on the game 

 preserve that would be of interest to visitors. 



From Dixon I went to Hot Springs, South 

 Dakota, and motored out to the Wind Cave 

 National Park, some nine or ten miles from 

 Hot Springs. As we entered the park and 

 moved along the road that runs through it I 

 noticed a band of antelope in the distance off to 

 the left, and managed to count sixteen. A 

 short ride further on brought us on to head- 

 quarters. Warden Chambers was away but 

 Mr. Brazell, Superintendent of the park, very 

 kindly undertook to show me around. For- 

 tunately, we found the buffalo lying down close 

 to the fence near the road. This afforded a 

 good opportunity for a close-up inspection of 

 the herd, which is not often obtained by persons 

 visiting the park or travellers along the road. 

 The buffalo were fat and fine, not a poor one 

 among them, a few of them got up as we 

 approached the fence, but they apparently were 

 not alarmed, although it was evident they were 

 on the alert and prepared for instant action, 

 but otherwise they appeared as tame as domestic 

 cattle. This is an ideal location for a game 



preserve. The rolling hills are covered with a 

 thick mat of native grasses, and the Pine Ridge 

 adds picturesqueness to the scenery. There is 

 also in this preserve a fine herd of elk, twenty- 

 one antelope, some white-tail deer and a few 

 mule deer. The people in Hot Springs are 

 proud of this fine game preserve, and the 

 tourists who visit the park are increasing in 

 number each year. 



Leaving Hot Springs, I proceeded on to 

 Valentine, Nebraska, it being the nearest point 

 on the railroad to the Niobrara Reserve, which 

 is located some four or five miles north of that 

 place. This reserve is part of the old Niobrara 

 Military Reserve and is on historic ground, as it 

 includes the site of Fort Niobrara. The Super- 

 intendent, Mr. Fred M. Dille, has his head- 

 quarters in one of the buildings in officers' row. 

 on the North side of the Niobrara River, which 

 runs east and west through the reserve, are the 

 hills ; to the south, the undulating sand hills, 

 covered with a thick mat of grass, stretch away 

 like a billowy sea as far as the eye can reach. 

 This would make an exceptionally fine antelope 

 range. In former years it was the original home 

 of the antelope and buffalo, countless thousands 

 of them ranged over the territory now included 

 within this reserve, therefore it would be a good 

 plan to place here any antelope that it might 

 be possible to obtain. The fine condition of 

 the buffalo show that their natural feed and 

 surroundings are all that is required to produce 

 such perfect specimens. It is an inspiring sight 

 to see these buffalo feeding over the same hills 

 and on the same kind of grasses as did their 

 progenitors many years ago. This herd has 

 increased from the original six to twenty-one 

 (21) and have outgrown its present limited 

 range which necessitates early and continuous 

 winter feeding. This could be avoided, or at 

 least very largely reduced, by placing the buffalo 

 on the north side of the river. The location is 

 an ideal one for a buffalo range, having quite 

 some advantages over their present quarters. 

 It is well grassed and has a fine meadow exten- 

 ding back some distance from the river. The 

 numerous breaks in the hills, together with a 

 southern exposure wouldafford ample protection 

 in winter, and if sufficient territory is included 

 it would considerably reduce the expense of 

 winter feeding. 



Since the appearance among the buffalo in 

 the Yellowstone Park he.d of a disease known 

 as hemorrhagic septicemia whereby a number of 

 the animals died in N 1911, measures have been 



