Chap. IV. BUFFALO HERDS. 255 
sick, and old. I do not know whether the buffalo- wolf is a 
distinct species ; those we saw were white and very large. 
On the 6th, whilst moving along between Pawnee Fork 
and Coon Creek, the buffalo herds formed a close line at 
least eight miles long upon the northern heights. Doubt- 
less this herd, w r hich surrounded us for a week whilst 
travelling, consisted of millions of animals, and formed one 
body, journeying along in company. I must, with my 
own eyes, have seen hundreds of thousands. Further on, 
after passing through this herd, we found the grass of the 
prairie cropped closely off, to the great inconvenience of 
our draught animals. The buffaloes had journeyed along, 
grazing as they went, and for hundreds of miles farther 
south the carcases of these beasts lay scattered about on 
the plain in such abundance that not a spot was free from 
the traces of their bones. 
During our journey through this buffalo-herd we were 
of course never in want of fresh meat. In half an hour, or 
less, an animal could always be procured ; and even after 
having left that part of the prairie where the buffaloes 
were grazing, our store of fresh meat held out for another 
week, as in these high and dry regions, especially at that 
season, fresh meat keeps good for a long time and is at 
last dried up by the air without being corrupted. Before 
our buffalo-meat was exhausted we fell in with herds of 
antelopes. Further west, immense flocks of ducks covered 
every pool in the prairie ; and on the Rio Grande we 
found, in addition, geese, cranes, hares, quails, and other 
small game, so that our table was always well supplied. 
During the greatest abundance the flesh of calves and 
young cows was alone deemed good enough, and of many 
slain animals we ate only the tongues and marrowbones. 
The liver also of young animals is delicious, and the 
