THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
Vol. I, p. 249), “ which is in August and September, is the time when 
they congregate into such masses, in some places, as literally to 
blacken the prairies for miles together. It is no uncommon thing at 
this season, at these gatherings, to see several thousands in a mass, 
eddying and wheeling about under a cloud of dust, which is raised 
by the bulls, as they are pawing in the dirt, or engaged in desperate 
combats, as they constantly are, plunging and butting at each other 
in the most furious manner. In these scenes the males are continually 
following the females, and the whole mass are in constant motion, 
and all bellowing (or ‘roaring’) in deep and hollow sounds, which, 
mingled all together, appear, at the distance of a mile or two, like 
the sound of distant thunder.” 
Frfemont, too, gives a description of a fight (“ Exploring Expedition,” 
1845, p. 26): 
“ July 7, 1842. — In the course of the afternoon, dust rising among 
the hills at a particular place attracted our attention, and, riding up, 
we found a band of eighteen or twenty buffalo bulls engaged in a 
desperate fight. Though butting and goring were bestowed liberally 
and without distinction, yet their efforts were evidently directed 
against one — a huge, gaunt old bull, very lean, while his adversaries 
were all fat and in good order. He appeared very weak, and had already 
received some wounds, and, while we were looking, was several times 
knocked down and badly hurt, and a very few moments would have 
put an end to him. Of course we took the side of the weaker party, 
and attacked the herd; but they were so blind with rage that they 
fought on, utterly regardless of our presence, although, on foot and 
on horseback, we were firing in open view within twenty yards 
of them. But this did not last long. In a very few seconds we created 
a commotion among them. One or two, which were knocked over 
by the balls, jumped up, ran off into the hills; and they began to 
retreat slowly along a broad ravine to the river, fighting furiously 
as they went. By the time they had reached the bottom we had 
pretty well dispersed them, and the old bull hobbled off to lie down 
somewhere.” 
Both in a wild state and in confinement the master bull amongst oxen 
and antelopes takes possession of the herd for a few years and is then 
himself beaten out and deposed. The younger bulls keep out of his way, 
but sometimes a lusty youngster tries a bout with the master and usually 
348 
