THE WILD BISON 
117 
“Because that animal on our buffalo nickels is not 
a buffalo. It’s a bison. 1 ’ 
“A bison?” 
“Yes. Buffaloes have never lived in America. 
They are found only in Africa and Asia. Buffaloes 
never have hump backs, as our American animal has. 
Ours is really a true bison, but the early white men 
made the mistake in naming him, and the mistake 
was never corrected. The big shaggy, humped crea- 
ture is so widely known as buffalo now that he will 
never be called by his correct name.” 
Father Blair, who was riding in the sedan with Ely 
and the children, was greatly interested in this. 
“Are you joking, Ely, or serious?” he asked. “I 
never heard that before.” 
“I’m not joking. Our buffalo is misnamed. We 
might even call him Wild Bill Bison, if we care to, 
for he was once a very wild fellow. When white 
men came into the western states, they found more 
bison than any other animal.” 
Buck had taken a “buffalo” nickel from his pocket 
and was staring at it. 
“He looks like a great big cow, doesn’t he, Uncle 
Ely?” 
“That’s right. That’s what he is, in a way. He is 
