62 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jtot 24, 1897. 
AMERICAN GAME PARKS. 
The "Forest and Stream's" Fourth 
Annual Report on Game in 
Preserves. 
Part One.— Fenced Parks. 
Th presenting Eore8t ahd Stkeajni's fourth annual re- 
port on American garae parks, it has been considered abun- 
dantly worth while to devote a yjart of the space to matters 
of interest relative to buifalo in captivity. 
The total extinction of wild buffalo on the North Ameri- 
can continent is at the present time an assured fact ; for 
even if the few scattered animals still at large could be 
guaranteed protection, the stock is so pitiably reduced that 
perpetuation of the race by breedmg is out of the question. 
A few years at best will see the disappearance of the last 
of the buifalo at liberty, and it is therefore to the semi- 
domesticated bulfalo under man's control that we must look 
for the future of the race. 
According to the best information obtainable, there are at 
present upward of 600 buffalo in captivity. Allard has 
about 250; the Corbin herd (including the "buffalo at Van 
Cortlandt) numbers 83; Goodnight has about 50; J. J, Hill 
80; D. F. Carlin 25, Buffalo Bill 24. Sir Donald A. Smith 
(Winnipeg) 16, Hon. Wm. C. Whitney 13, J. G. McNair 10, 
Page Fence Co. 9, John H. Starin 7, J. H. Bass .5, etc. In- 
cluding those in other small herds and in zoological gardens, 
such as at Philadelphia, Buffalo, Cincinnati, New York, 
Chicago, St, Louis, and the various European gardens, the 
total will probably not be far from the above figures. 
It is encouraging to note that the numbers of these semi- 
domesticated buffalo are increasing, and that a more general 
interest in the subject of scientific breeding has been 
awakened. 
Under these circumstances, and also in view of the fact 
that the stock at present in existence has been secured from 
both the northern and southern herds of the wild buffalo, as 
widely separated strains as existed, it seems not unreason- 
able to hope that the total extinction of the race may be long 
averted. 
Mr. Arthur Erwin Brown, of the Philadelphia Zoological 
Gardens, whose notes appear elsewhere, is perhaps the 
authority best qualified to give an opinion on the subject. 
His note of warning directed against the evil of inbreeding 
is timely and should receive the attention it deserves. Aside 
from a few notable instances, there seems to have been little 
or no exchange of bulls among owners of buffalo, and 
though care has been taken to prevent intercourse between 
animals closely related, the blood of the herds now in exist- 
ence is becoming more closely commingled each year. 
Long ago Forest and Stream suggested the ]->ian of a 
buffalo herd book. It would not be such a difiicult under- 
taking to record the pedigree and history of every known 
animal, and such information would be of incalculable value 
" in governing future breeding. 
Buffalo may be classed among the most valuable stock in 
the world. From a mercenary point of view, and aside 
from any sentiment in favor of this noble animal, it would 
seem good business to take this simple precaution against 
mistakes of mbreeding, which are likely to become more 
common as time goes by. 
Au interesting fact ia that noted at the Philadelphia Zo- 
ological Gardens relative to the preponderance of males. 
Here the ratio was 19 to 9. On the other hand, we are iv- 
formed that, [taking the biiths for a period of seven years in 
the Corbin herd the sexes have exactly balanced. A possible 
explanation of this contradictory state of affairs may be 
found in the conditions under which the I'uftalo existed. At 
Philadelphia their quarters were limited, while at the Corbin 
park they had a wide range, and the conditions more closely 
resembled those to which they had baen accustomed in a 
wild state. 
:The Allard Buffalo Herd. 
The largest single herd -of buffalo in existence is the 
Allard head in Missou-a county, Mont. Although we have 
no very recent figures on which to base an estimate of their 
numbers, it is probable that the herd comprises at the present 
time 250 full-blooded animals, besides crosses with domestic 
cattle. Their home is in one of the fertile valleys of western 
Montana, where they are not restrained by fences, and wan 
der around in much the same manner as range cattle. The 
animals forming the nucleus of the herd were captured when 
calves, and domesticated by the late Charles Allard in 1879. 
Allard was quarter Indian, and to this fact is probably due 
his attachment for the animal which for generations had fur- 
nished food and clothing to the red plainsman, and so won 
his gratitude and reverence. He realized that the race would 
soon become extinct, and determined to save some from the 
general fate. One of the cows captured at this time is still 
living, and is supposed to be over twenty years old. In a 
letter written to Mr. William T. Hornaday, April 20, Charles 
Allard, a son of the elder Allard, writes: 
"1 have seen a great deal of the buffalo in their wild as 
well as domesticated state, and believe they will live to be at 
least thirty years old. No snow storm or blizzard has any 
effect on them. They are very hardy, and live very fat 
through the hard winters. " 
In speaking of the crosses, he writes: 
"We have about twenty cateloes, a cross between a com- 
mon cow and buffalo bull. They make a very fine animal 
if crossed with Polled. Angus cows. We have been trying 
very hard to cross more, but owing to some reason unknown 
to us, a cow with calf from buffalo bull will, in nme cases 
out of ten, die before she is eight months gone; and I know 
of a case where we took a calf out of its mother two weeks 
before time. I only hope we can make some discovery that 
will make us more successful. 
"Mr. Allaid bought the Jones herd then in Nebraska, in'93, 
consisting of thirty- one full-bloods and three cross. They 
were in very poor condition when taken to Montana, from 
lack of carp, but are looking very well now. 
"I and my brother Joseph have come into possession of the 
herd since our father's death last July." 
The Buffalo at Van Cortlandt Park. 
A practical buffalo breeder, and a man than whom no one 
has been more successful in the care of the noble animal so 
near extinction, is Wm. Morisson. William, or Billy, as he 
is familiarly called, has charge of the herd which the 
'' Corbins loaned the city of ISew I'ork, and which is now 
quartered on a breezy hillside in Van Cortlandt Park, kept 
trom straying beyond the lioiits of theii- seventy-six-acre in? 
closure by an unobtrusive, but tremendously powerful fence 
of Page woven wire. 
Morisson is a Scotchriaan, from Murrayshire, where for 
eight years he was in the employment of Wm. Robertson an 
agent and breeder of black cattle— Aberdeen and Polled 
Angus. His brother was, and is, with the Dukes of Gordon 
and Richmond, and Billy learned from him of the breeding 
of deer and pheasants. Six years ago last April the late 
Austin Corbin bought some stock from Robertson, and 
wanted some one who understood the breeding and care of 
black cattle to come over with them. The inducement which 
he offered was considered liberal, and, as a result, there were 
twenty-one applicants for the place, including men of ten 
and twelve years' experience in the business. Morisson, 
however, though he had only had eight years' experience 
with black cattle, got the appointment, and, well satis- 
fied with his good luck— which was probably owing to his 
steadiness and reliability as much as experience — started for 
America forthwith. 
When he-arrived at the Blue Mountain Forest Park, Cor- 
bin's great game preserve was still in its infancy. There 
were but thirteen buffalo, and hardly a tenth of the game 
that is to be found there at the present time. 
Morisson's position was tha*^^ of gamekeeper, and though 
at first his duties were confined to the care of the black cat- 
tle and buffalo, they were soon extended to include the 
breeding and oversight of all the other game. 
Shortly after his arrival the buffalo herd was increased by 
the purchase of ten more animals from Buffalo Jones, includ- 
ing two fine bulls named in honor of the President and Vice- 
President of the United States, Cleveland and Stevenson. 
Cleveland was president of the herd and Stevenson second 
in command. They were insanely jealous of each other, 
and one day, in a lonely part of the park, they met in mortal 
combat. The tragedy that resulted is well known. Cleve- 
land killed Stevenson, and. while the latter was "new dead" 
Morisson happened along too late to avert the evil. On one 
side of the dead buffalo were fourteen holes, in evidence of 
i 
the vicious goring he had received from his antagonist. 
Cleveland still holds the leadership of the herd, but Mountain 
Chief or McKinley will eventually relegate him to a place in 
the ranks. 
Buffalo Breeding. 
Under Morisson's care the buffalo bred successfully, till 
from twenty-three purchased animals they number now 
eighty -two, a net increase of fifty nine for seven seasons. He 
never lost a cow, but on one occasion several calves were 
born prematurely from driving cows across the mountain at 
too rapid a gait, When with calf the buffalo must be 
handled "very easy," he says. "Just let them lake their own 
swing and all will go well." Aside from this incident he 
never had any trouble at Blue Mountain Park at calving 
time. Calving time runs from the middle of April to the first 
week in June, though calves have been born as late as August 
and September. The cows are nine months with calf and 
breed their second or third season. As a rule Billy prefers 
the cow to be three years old before getting with young. 
The progeny of the herd of which he has had charge have 
been evenly divided between the sexes— half bulls and half 
heifers. 
Billy says there is no trouble at all about breeding buffalo 
successfully. His one pre-requisite is that there must be 
plenty of good grass land for pasture. Hay cannot be de- 
pended on to keep the breeding stock in proper condition at 
the time when they should have grass. 
Great care has been taken with the Corbin herd to avert as 
far as possible the evils of inbreeding. Before the rutting 
time all but the service bulls are separated from the cows, 
and these bulls are selected from as distant a strain as possi- 
ble. Cleveland, Mountain Chief and a four-year-old" were 
used one year. The next year McKinley and two three- 
year-olds, etc, Billy is anxious now to trade off a bull or 
two, so as to get an influx of entirely new blood in the herd, 
though as a matter of fact no signs of inbreeding have mani- 
fested themselves in his charges, and a more thrifty, healthy 
lot of animals would be hard to find. 
In Novembtr last the twenty-five buffalo at Van Cortlandt 
were brought on from New Hampshire. They were selected, 
as far as possible, to inclade no cows with calf; but, as it 
bappene4, four cows ^ere at the time in this condition. The 
shipment included fourteen bulls of various ages, from Mc- 
Kinley (who, though only five years old, is a magnificent 
specimen) down, and eleven heifers and cows. Among the 
latter were three old cows. All the rest were young stock, 
and the entire herd, with the exception of one cow ten years 
old, was bred by Morisson, and included no alien stock. 
As will be recollected, the shipment had been delayed ow^- 
ing to Mr. Corbin's sudden death, and this also caused a 
considerable change in the original plan, which hati in vie\^ 
the sending of thirty-five buffalo, including eighteen cotvs. 
Morisson says that the best time to ship buffalo is about the 
first of April. Five years ago on the 22d of June he took five 
bulls from New Hampshire to Manhattan Beach, L. I., and 
only got them through alive with the greatest difliculty. 
Most of the time during the journey was spent sousing them 
with buckets of water. 
"It's a wonder we didn't make some of those cows slip 
their calves last November bringing them down to Van 
Cortlandt," he remarked. ' But we handled them very easy 
and got them through all right." 
As it happened, one calf was born two weeks too early in 
the spring and died. Three others survived and are doing 
well. The mother of the calf that died was the old cow men- 
tioned above, and Billy thinks she hurt herself "hopping 
down off the mountain'' just before the calf was born, "div 
ye see?" Billy is pretty thoroughly Americanized, but the 
"div ye's" and "dinnas" still cling to his vocabulary, tie 
said he could tell that the calf came froni ten to fifteen days 
too soon from the fact that the teeth had just cut through the 
skin of the gums and were not yet clean, as is the case with 
those that go the full time. 
When the Forest and Stream representative visited the 
buffalo paddock recently he found all the animals in fine 
condition, and reflecting credit upon their keeper. Thty 
were sleek and fat, and most of them had shed their old 
coats and displayed fine, glossy coats. Morisson attributed 
their good condition to the abundant rain of the early sum- 
mer. "That did all the good to me," he said in explanation 
"If it had been a dry s^ing my buffalo wouldn't have beeh 
looking half so well. We got rain every week twice There 
wouldn't have been pasture for sii if we hadn't," 
Morisson calls the buffalo inclosure "A mountain of rocks 
and sand," which, to any one who knows the locality, ex- 
actly desdribes it. The soil is scanty and poor and there is 
very little pasturage there. What grass there is the buffalo 
have long since cropped close to the ground. Now that the 
buffalo have become a fixture at Van Cortlandt, the city 
should carry out the plan that was originally proposed and 
fence in the 140-acre tract lying just north of the present in- 
closure, connecting the two by a pass way. This would in- 
sure enough grass to carry the buffalo through the summer, 
and would be of inestimable benefit in a dry season. 
For the last three weeks Morisson has been getting a load 
of grass every two days from the park authorities for the 
buffalo, and previous to that, since the 1st of April, he fed 
them a bale of hay per day. During the winter their allow- 
ance was two small bales of hay per day, weighing from 300 
to 4001bs. 
Newspaper Natural History. 
Billy wanted to deny a story which was published in two 
New York daily newspapers, saying that the buffalo were 
destroying the beauty of . the park, rooting up the ground 
and stripping the trees of their foliage and breaking down 
the shrubbery. If the reporters had taken the trouble to 
visit the park, they could have seen for themselves that there 
was no foundation for the story in fact; and if they had 
known anything of natural history they would have been 
aware that buffalo are grazers, and not browsers or roolers. 
As a matter of fact, the buffalo spend their time on the open 
hillside at the east side of the inclosure, and rarely, if ever, 
enter the woods. They do not care for leaves as food, and 
never touch the few scrubby trees growing in the open, ex- 
cept possibly occasionally to horn them. 
What newspaper reporters don't know about natural his- 
tory is surprising, ilr. Wm. T. Hornaday has a clipping 
taken from the Chicago Chroriwle which, is worth quoting in 
this connection. It tells about a beaver farm on Muscata- 
tuck Creek, a few miles south of Greensburg, Ind., owned 
by Mr. Lafayette Bowman. When questioned as to the food 
supply of his beayer, Mr. Bowman -is m8.de to reply; 
