BUFFALO AND MUSK OX 
breeding season, for calves are sometimes born as early as January and 
often as late as August. The guardian of the Banff Park told me that there is 
no fixed season, for though the majority of calves are produced in April and 
May, many continue to appear in July and August, whilst a very late one in 
September is not a rarity. In less than an hour after her labour, of from 
twenty-five to forty-five minutes’ duration, the mother is ready to defend 
her offspring against the attack of wolves, and when they threaten she 
utters a loud bellow and the males at once come to her assistance. In old 
days several observers have seen bulls surround a newly -born calf and 
escort it in their midst from some outlying spot to the safety of the herd. 
If a calf becomes separated the grey wolves soon hunt it down and devour 
it, whilst it is still alive. The mothers are very bold in defence of their 
young and will charge a man at once if the calf begins to bellow. In con- 
finement the bulls are usually very inoffensive until they become old, but 
the cows may at any moment assume the aggressive if they become 
momentarily separated from their offspring. 
Catlin (“ North American Indians,” 1866, Vol. I, p. 255) tells us that 
when a large herd was stampeded numerous calves were left behind and 
endeavoured to conceal themselves by pushing their heads in any grass 
or sage brush that was near at hand. In this position they did not move 
until touched by the hand and then they kicked out freely. Alexander 
Henry says that the cows came back and searched for their young when 
the hunt was over. 
The general habits of buffalo seem to be much the same as other oxen. 
In the early hours they graze. When the sun becomes warm they lie down 
and chew the cud. About noon they go to water and after drinking stand 
about for an hour or two and bask or lie in the sun. About three they rise 
and feed again until dusk and then rest for the greater part of the night. 
Audubon and Bachman thought that the bull buffalo selected a mate 
and did not leave her until she was about to calve, but this view will not 
be shared by modern naturalists, since it is known that all the oxen are 
quite promiscuous in their love affairs. The bulls occasionally fight 
savagely and the strongest bull drives others out and holds as many 
cows as he can. 
The annual rut seems to take place in July, the cows remaining in 
season for about two months. Catlin gives an interesting account of the 
mating of the buffalo: 
“ The 4 running season ” he says (“ North American Indians,” 
347 
