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continue the text below | If it had only possessed the strength, it would have led us
a lively chase.
| During 1886 four other buffalo calves were either killed or caught by
the cowboys on the Missouri-Yellowstone divide, in the Dry Creek
region. |
continue the text below | During 1886 four other buffalo calves were either killed or caught by
the cowboys on the Missouri-Yellowstone divide, in the Dry Creek
region. | All of them ran the moment they discovered their enemies. |
continue the text below | All of them ran the moment they discovered their enemies. | Two
were shot and killed. |
continue the text below | Two
were shot and killed. | One was caught by a cowboy named Horace Brodhurst,
ear marked, and turned loose. |
continue the text below | One was caught by a cowboy named Horace Brodhurst,
ear marked, and turned loose. | The fifth one was caught in September on
the Porcupine Creek round-up. |
continue the text below | The fifth one was caught in September on
the Porcupine Creek round-up. | He was then about five months old, and
being abundantly able to travel he showed a clean pair of heels. |
continue the text below | He was then about five months old, and
being abundantly able to travel he showed a clean pair of heels. | It took
three fresh horses, one after another, to catch him, and his final
capture was due to exhaustion, and not to the speed of any of his
pursuers. |
continue the text below | It took
three fresh horses, one after another, to catch him, and his final
capture was due to exhaustion, and not to the speed of any of his
pursuers. | The distance covered by the chase, from the point where his
first pursuer started to where the third one finally lassoed him, was
considered to be at least 15 miles. |
continue the text below | The distance covered by the chase, from the point where his
first pursuer started to where the third one finally lassoed him, was
considered to be at least 15 miles. | But the capture came to naught, for
on the following day the calf died from overexertion and want of milk.
|
continue the text below | But the capture came to naught, for
on the following day the calf died from overexertion and want of milk.
| Colonel Dodge states that the very young calves of a herd have to depend
upon the old bulls for protection, and seldom in vain. |
continue the text below | Colonel Dodge states that the very young calves of a herd have to depend
upon the old bulls for protection, and seldom in vain. | The mothers
abandon their offspring on slight provocation, and even none at all
sometimes, if we may judge from the condition of the little waif that
fell into our hands. |
continue the text below | The mothers
abandon their offspring on slight provocation, and even none at all
sometimes, if we may judge from the condition of the little waif that
fell into our hands. | Had its mother remained with it, or even in its
neighborhood, we should at least have seen her, but she was nowhere
within a radius of 5 miles at the time her calf was discovered. |
continue the text below | Had its mother remained with it, or even in its
neighborhood, we should at least have seen her, but she was nowhere
within a radius of 5 miles at the time her calf was discovered. | Nor did
she return to look for it, as two of us proved by spending the night in
the sage-brush at the very spot where the calf was taken. |
continue the text below | Nor did
she return to look for it, as two of us proved by spending the night in
the sage-brush at the very spot where the calf was taken. | Colonel Dodge
declares that "the cow seems to possess scarcely a trace of maternal
instinct, and, when frightened, will abandon and run away from her calf
without the slightest hesitation. |
continue the text below | Colonel Dodge
declares that "the cow seems to possess scarcely a trace of maternal
instinct, and, when frightened, will abandon and run away from her calf
without the slightest hesitation. | * |
continue the text below | * | * * |
continue the text below | * * | When the calves are young they
are always kept in the center of each small herd, while the bulls
dispose themselves on the outside. |
continue the text below | When the calves are young they
are always kept in the center of each small herd, while the bulls
dispose themselves on the outside. | "[28]
|
continue the text below | "[28]
| [Note 28: Plains of the Great West, pp. 124, 125.]
|
continue the text below | [Note 28: Plains of the Great West, pp. 124, 125.]
| Apparently the maternal instinct of the cow buffalo was easily mastered
by fear. |
continue the text below | Apparently the maternal instinct of the cow buffalo was easily mastered
by fear. | That it was often manifested, however, is proven by the
following from Audubon and Bachman:[29]
|
continue the text below | That it was often manifested, however, is proven by the
following from Audubon and Bachman:[29]
| [Note 29: Quadrupeds of North America, vol. |
continue the text below | [Note 29: Quadrupeds of North America, vol. | II, pp. |
continue the text below | II, pp. | 38, 39.]
"Buffalo calves are drowned from being unable to ascend the steep banks
of the rivers across which they have just swam, as the cows cannot help
them, although they stand near the bank, and will not leave them to
their fate unless something alarms them.
|
continue the text below | 38, 39.]
"Buffalo calves are drowned from being unable to ascend the steep banks
of the rivers across which they have just swam, as the cows cannot help
them, although they stand near the bank, and will not leave them to
their fate unless something alarms them.
| "On one occasion Mr. Kipp, of the American Fur Company, caught eleven
calves, their dams all the time standing near the top of the bank.
|
continue the text below | "On one occasion Mr. Kipp, of the American Fur Company, caught eleven
calves, their dams all the time standing near the top of the bank.
| Frequently, however, the cows leave the young to their fate, when most
of them perish. |
continue the text below | Frequently, however, the cows leave the young to their fate, when most
of them perish. | In connection with this part of the subject, we may add
that we were informed, when on the Upper Missouri River, that when the
banks of that river were practicable for cows, and their calves could
not follow them, they went down again, after having gained the top, and
would remain by them until forced away by the cravings of hunger. |
continue the text below | In connection with this part of the subject, we may add
that we were informed, when on the Upper Missouri River, that when the
banks of that river were practicable for cows, and their calves could
not follow them, they went down again, after having gained the top, and
would remain by them until forced away by the cravings of hunger. | When
thus forced by the necessity of saving themselves to quit their young,
they seldom, if ever, return to them. |
continue the text below | When
thus forced by the necessity of saving themselves to quit their young,
they seldom, if ever, return to them. | When a large herd of these wild
animals are crossing a river, the calves or yearlings manage to get on
the backs of the cows, and are thus conveyed safely over. |
continue the text below | When a large herd of these wild
animals are crossing a river, the calves or yearlings manage to get on
the backs of the cows, and are thus conveyed safely over. | "
5. _ |
continue the text below | "
5. _ | The Yearling._--During the first five months of his life, the calf
changes its coat completely, and becomes in appearance a totally
different animal. |
continue the text below | The Yearling._--During the first five months of his life, the calf
changes its coat completely, and becomes in appearance a totally
different animal. | By the time he is six months old he has taken on all
the colors which distinguish him in after life, excepting that upon his
fore quarters. |
continue the text below | By the time he is six months old he has taken on all
the colors which distinguish him in after life, excepting that upon his
fore quarters. | The hair on the head has started out to attain the
luxuriant length and density which is so conspicuous in the adult, and
its general color is a rich dark brown, shading to black under the chin
and throat. |
continue the text below | The hair on the head has started out to attain the
luxuriant length and density which is so conspicuous in the adult, and
its general color is a rich dark brown, shading to black under the chin
and throat. | The fringe under the neck is long, straight, and black, and
the under parts, the back of the fore arm, the outside of thigh, and the
tail-tuft are all black.
|
continue the text below | The fringe under the neck is long, straight, and black, and
the under parts, the back of the fore arm, the outside of thigh, and the
tail-tuft are all black.
| The color of the shoulder, the side, and upper part of the hind quarter
is a peculiar smoky brown ("broccoli brown" of Ridgway), having in
connection with the darker browns of the other parts a peculiar faded
appearance, quite as if it were due to the bleaching power of the sun.
|
continue the text below | The color of the shoulder, the side, and upper part of the hind quarter
is a peculiar smoky brown ("broccoli brown" of Ridgway), having in
connection with the darker browns of the other parts a peculiar faded
appearance, quite as if it were due to the bleaching power of the sun.
| On the fore quarters there is none of the bright straw color so
characteristic of the adult animal. |
continue the text below | On the fore quarters there is none of the bright straw color so
characteristic of the adult animal. | Along the top of the neck and
shoulders, however, this color has at last begun to show faintly. |
continue the text below | Along the top of the neck and
shoulders, however, this color has at last begun to show faintly. | The
hair on the body is quite luxuriant, both in length and density, in both
respects quite equaling, if not even surpassing, that of the finest
adults. |
continue the text below | The
hair on the body is quite luxuriant, both in length and density, in both
respects quite equaling, if not even surpassing, that of the finest
adults. | For example, the hair on the side of the mounted yearling in the
Museum group has a length of 2 to 21/2 inches, while that on the same
region of the adult bull, whose pelage is particularly fine, is recorded
as being 2 inches only.
|
continue the text below | For example, the hair on the side of the mounted yearling in the
Museum group has a length of 2 to 21/2 inches, while that on the same
region of the adult bull, whose pelage is particularly fine, is recorded
as being 2 inches only.
| The horn is a straight, conical spike from 4 to 6 inches long, according
to age, and perfectly black. |
continue the text below | The horn is a straight, conical spike from 4 to 6 inches long, according
to age, and perfectly black. | The legs are proportionally longer and
larger in the joints than those of the full-grown animal. |
continue the text below | The legs are proportionally longer and
larger in the joints than those of the full-grown animal. | The
countenance of the yearling is quite interesting. |
continue the text below | The
countenance of the yearling is quite interesting. | The sleepy, helpless,
innocent expression of the very young calf has given place to a
wide-awake, mischievous look, and he seems ready to break away and run
at a second's notice.
|
continue the text below | The sleepy, helpless,
innocent expression of the very young calf has given place to a
wide-awake, mischievous look, and he seems ready to break away and run
at a second's notice.
| The measurements of the yearling in the Museum group are as follows:
|
continue the text below | The measurements of the yearling in the Museum group are as follows:
| +----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BISON AMERICANUS. |
continue the text below | +----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BISON AMERICANUS. | (Male yearling, taken Oct. 31, 1886. |
continue the text below | (Male yearling, taken Oct. 31, 1886. | Montana.)|
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| (_No. 15694, National Museum collection._) |
continue the text below | Montana.)|
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| (_No. 15694, National Museum collection._) | |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| | Feet.| Inches. |
continue the text below | |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| | Feet.| Inches. | |
|Height at shoulders | 3 | 5 |
|Length, head and body to insertion of tail | 5 | |
|Depth of chest | 1 | 11 |
|Depth of flank | 1 | 1 |
|Girth behind fore leg | 4 | 3 |
|From base of horns around end of nose | 2 | 11/2 |
|Length of tail vertebræ | | 10 |
|
continue the text below | |
|Height at shoulders | 3 | 5 |
|Length, head and body to insertion of tail | 5 | |
|Depth of chest | 1 | 11 |
|Depth of flank | 1 | 1 |
|Girth behind fore leg | 4 | 3 |
|From base of horns around end of nose | 2 | 11/2 |
|Length of tail vertebræ | | 10 |
| +----------------------------------------------------------------+
6. _ |
continue the text below | +----------------------------------------------------------------+
6. _ | The Spike Bull._--In hunters' parlance, the male buffalo between the
"yearling" age and four years is called a "spike" bull, in recognition
of the fact that up to the latter period the horn is a spike, either
perfectly straight, or with a curve near its base, and a straight point
the rest of the way up. |
continue the text below | The Spike Bull._--In hunters' parlance, the male buffalo between the
"yearling" age and four years is called a "spike" bull, in recognition
of the fact that up to the latter period the horn is a spike, either
perfectly straight, or with a curve near its base, and a straight point
the rest of the way up. | The curve of the horn is generally hidden in
the hair, and the only part visible is the straight, terminal spike.
|
continue the text below | The curve of the horn is generally hidden in
the hair, and the only part visible is the straight, terminal spike.
| Usually the spike points diverge from each other, but often they are
parallel, and also perpendicular. |
continue the text below | Usually the spike points diverge from each other, but often they are
parallel, and also perpendicular. | In the fourth year, however, the
points of the horns begin to curve inward toward each other, describing
equal arcs of the same circle, as if they were going to meet over the
top of the head.
|
continue the text below | In the fourth year, however, the
points of the horns begin to curve inward toward each other, describing
equal arcs of the same circle, as if they were going to meet over the
top of the head.
| In the handsome young "spike" bull in the Museum group, the hair on the
shoulders has begun to take on the length, the light color, and tufted
appearance of the adult, beginning at the highest point of the hump and
gradually spreading. |
continue the text below | In the handsome young "spike" bull in the Museum group, the hair on the
shoulders has begun to take on the length, the light color, and tufted
appearance of the adult, beginning at the highest point of the hump and
gradually spreading. | Immediately back of this light patch the hair is
long, but dark and woolly in appearance. |
continue the text below | Immediately back of this light patch the hair is
long, but dark and woolly in appearance. | The leg tufts have doubled in
length, and reveal the character of the growth that may be finally
expected. |
continue the text below | The leg tufts have doubled in
length, and reveal the character of the growth that may be finally
expected. | The beard has greatly lengthened, as also has the hair upon
the bridge of the nose, the forehead, ears, jaws, and all other portions
of the head except the cheeks.
|
continue the text below | The beard has greatly lengthened, as also has the hair upon
the bridge of the nose, the forehead, ears, jaws, and all other portions
of the head except the cheeks.
| The "spike" period of a buffalo is a most interesting one. |
continue the text below | The "spike" period of a buffalo is a most interesting one. | Like a
seventeen-year-old boy, the young bull shows his youth in so many ways
it is always conspicuous, and his countenance is so suggestive of a
half-bearded youth it fixes the interest to a marked degree. |
continue the text below | Like a
seventeen-year-old boy, the young bull shows his youth in so many ways
it is always conspicuous, and his countenance is so suggestive of a
half-bearded youth it fixes the interest to a marked degree. | He is
active, alert, and suspicious, and when he makes up his mind to run the
hunter may as well give up the chase.
|
continue the text below | He is
active, alert, and suspicious, and when he makes up his mind to run the
hunter may as well give up the chase.
| By a strange fatality, our spike bull appears to be the only one in any
museum, or even in preserved existence, as far as can be ascertained.
|
continue the text below | By a strange fatality, our spike bull appears to be the only one in any
museum, or even in preserved existence, as far as can be ascertained.
| Out of the twenty-five buffaloes killed and preserved by the Smithsonian
expedition, ten of which were adult bulls, this specimen was the only
male between the yearling and the adult ages. |
continue the text below | Out of the twenty-five buffaloes killed and preserved by the Smithsonian
expedition, ten of which were adult bulls, this specimen was the only
male between the yearling and the adult ages. | An effort to procure
another entire specimen of this age from Texas yielded only two spike
heads. |
continue the text below | An effort to procure
another entire specimen of this age from Texas yielded only two spike
heads. | It is to be sincerely regretted that more specimens representing
this very interesting period of the buffalo's life have not been
preserved, for it is now too late to procure wild specimens.
|
continue the text below | It is to be sincerely regretted that more specimens representing
this very interesting period of the buffalo's life have not been
preserved, for it is now too late to procure wild specimens.
| The following are the post-mortem dimensions of our specimen:
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| BISON AMERICANUS. |
continue the text below | The following are the post-mortem dimensions of our specimen:
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| BISON AMERICANUS. | |
|
continue the text below | |
| +---------------------------------------------------------------+
|("Spike" bull, two years old; taken October 14, 1886. |
continue the text below | +---------------------------------------------------------------+
|("Spike" bull, two years old; taken October 14, 1886. | Montana.)|
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| (_No. 15685, National Museum collection._) |
continue the text below | Montana.)|
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| (_No. 15685, National Museum collection._) | |
|
continue the text below | |
| +---------------------------------------------------------------+
| | Feet.| Inches. |
continue the text below | +---------------------------------------------------------------+
| | Feet.| Inches. | |
|Height at shoulders | 4 | 2 |
|Length, head and body to insertion of tail | 7 | 7 |
|Depth of chest | 2 | 3 |
|Depth of flank | 1 | 7 |
|Girth behind fore leg | 6 | 8 |
|From base of horns around end of nose | 2 | 81/2 |
|Length of tail vertebræ | 1 | |
continue the text below | |
|Height at shoulders | 4 | 2 |
|Length, head and body to insertion of tail | 7 | 7 |
|Depth of chest | 2 | 3 |
|Depth of flank | 1 | 7 |
|Girth behind fore leg | 6 | 8 |
|From base of horns around end of nose | 2 | 81/2 |
|Length of tail vertebræ | 1 | | |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
7. _ |
continue the text below | |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
7. _ | The Adult Bull._--In attempting to describe the adult male in the
National Museum group, it is difficult to decide which feature is most
prominent, the massive, magnificent head, with its shaggy frontlet and
luxuriant black beard, or the lofty hump, with its showy covering of
straw-yellow hair, in thickly-growing locks 4 inches long. |
continue the text below | The Adult Bull._--In attempting to describe the adult male in the
National Museum group, it is difficult to decide which feature is most
prominent, the massive, magnificent head, with its shaggy frontlet and
luxuriant black beard, or the lofty hump, with its showy covering of
straw-yellow hair, in thickly-growing locks 4 inches long. | But the head
is irresistible in its claims to precedence.
|
continue the text below | But the head
is irresistible in its claims to precedence.
| [Illustration: SPIKE BULL. |
continue the text below | [Illustration: SPIKE BULL. | From the group in the National Museum.
Reproduced from the _Cosmopolitan Magazine_, by permission of the
publishers. |
continue the text below | From the group in the National Museum.
Reproduced from the _Cosmopolitan Magazine_, by permission of the
publishers. | ]
|
continue the text below | ]
| It must be observed at this point that in many respects this animal is
an exceptionally fine one. |
continue the text below | It must be observed at this point that in many respects this animal is
an exceptionally fine one. | In actual size of frame, and in quantity and
quality of pelage, it is far superior to the average, even of wild
buffaloes when they were most numerous and at their best.[30] In one
respect, however, that of actual bulk, it is believed that this specimen
may have often been surpassed. |
continue the text below | In actual size of frame, and in quantity and
quality of pelage, it is far superior to the average, even of wild
buffaloes when they were most numerous and at their best.[30] In one
respect, however, that of actual bulk, it is believed that this specimen
may have often been surpassed. | When buffaloes were numerous, and not
required to do any great amount of running in order to exist, they were,
in the autumn months, very fat. |
continue the text below | When buffaloes were numerous, and not
required to do any great amount of running in order to exist, they were,
in the autumn months, very fat. | Audubon says: "A large bison bull will
generally weigh nearly 2,000 pounds, and a fat cow about 1,200 pounds.
|
continue the text below | Audubon says: "A large bison bull will
generally weigh nearly 2,000 pounds, and a fat cow about 1,200 pounds.
| We weighed one of the bulls killed by our party, and found it to reach
1,727 pounds, although it had already lost a good deal of blood. |
continue the text below | We weighed one of the bulls killed by our party, and found it to reach
1,727 pounds, although it had already lost a good deal of blood. | This
was an old bull, and not fat. |
continue the text below | This
was an old bull, and not fat. | It had probably weighed more at some
previous period. |
continue the text below | It had probably weighed more at some
previous period. | "[31] |
continue the text below | "[31] | Our specimen when killed (by the writer, December
6, 1886) was in full vigor, superbly muscled, and well fed, but he
carried not a single pound of fat. |
continue the text below | Our specimen when killed (by the writer, December
6, 1886) was in full vigor, superbly muscled, and well fed, but he
carried not a single pound of fat. | For years the never-ceasing race for
life had utterly prevented the secretion of useless and cumbersome fat,
and his "subsistence" had gone toward the development of useful muscle.
|
continue the text below | For years the never-ceasing race for
life had utterly prevented the secretion of useless and cumbersome fat,
and his "subsistence" had gone toward the development of useful muscle.
| Having no means by which to weigh him, we could only estimate his
weight, in which I called for the advice of my cowboys, all of whom were
more or less familiar with the weight of range cattle, and one I
regarded as an expert. |
continue the text below | Having no means by which to weigh him, we could only estimate his
weight, in which I called for the advice of my cowboys, all of whom were
more or less familiar with the weight of range cattle, and one I
regarded as an expert. | At first the estimated weight of the animal was
fixed at 1,700 pounds, but with a constitutional fear of estimating over
the truth, I afterward reduced it to 1,600 pounds. |
continue the text below | At first the estimated weight of the animal was
fixed at 1,700 pounds, but with a constitutional fear of estimating over
the truth, I afterward reduced it to 1,600 pounds. | This I am now well
convinced was an error, for I believe the first figure to have been
nearer the truth.
|
continue the text below | This I am now well
convinced was an error, for I believe the first figure to have been
nearer the truth.
| [Note 30: In testimony whereof the following extract from a letter
written by General Stewart Van Vliet, on March 10, 1897, to Professor
Baird, is of interest:
"MY DEAR PROFESSOR: |
continue the text below | [Note 30: In testimony whereof the following extract from a letter
written by General Stewart Van Vliet, on March 10, 1897, to Professor
Baird, is of interest:
"MY DEAR PROFESSOR: | On the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant I
saw General Sheridan, and yesterday we called on your taxidermist and
examined the buffalo bull he is setting up for the Museum. |
continue the text below | On the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant I
saw General Sheridan, and yesterday we called on your taxidermist and
examined the buffalo bull he is setting up for the Museum. | I don't think
I have ever seen a more splendid specimen in my life. |
continue the text below | I don't think
I have ever seen a more splendid specimen in my life. | General Sheridan
and I have seen millions of buffalo on the plains in former times. |
continue the text below | General Sheridan
and I have seen millions of buffalo on the plains in former times. | I
have killed hundreds, but I never killed a larger animal than the one in
the possession of your taxidermist. |
continue the text below | I
have killed hundreds, but I never killed a larger animal than the one in
the possession of your taxidermist. | "]
|
continue the text below | "]
| [Note 31: Quadrupeds of North America, vol. |
continue the text below | [Note 31: Quadrupeds of North America, vol. | II, p. 44.]
|
continue the text below | II, p. 44.]
| In mounting the skin of this animal, we endeavored by every means in our
power, foremost of which were three different sets of measurements,
taken from the dead animal, one set to check another, to reproduce him
when mounted in exactly the same form he possessed in life--muscular,
but not fat.
|