St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-04

SA$A to the Central park
collection, and the trip may be cOnSid-
cred success, although no butfaloeS
were secured. The primary object IN
sending a party west was TO secure
number of butfaloeS for a herd group at
the museum, and the entire expense OF
the expedition was borne by Mr.. JeSup,
the president of the Museum aSS0cla-
ton. and Mr.. Constable, vice president.
4 full account of the expedition was
secured yesterday from JeneSSe Rlch-
ardSon. taXidermist at the museum,
who, with ID. q. Elliot. two guides,
teamSter and cook, left Miles City,
Mont. on Oct. 5 for the headwaterS of
the Big and Little POTcupine rivers. 1t
was through this region and the bad
lands, 200 miles northwest OF Miles
City, that the HOrnaday expedition went
last year. 1t was SurmiSed that some
remnants of the buffalo herds seen by
that party might be found. but in that
the museum party was disappointed.
The bleaching bones of the great ami
mai We're found in hundreds of small
white lunches dOtting the plains as far
as the eye could reach, and bones
enough for ten complete skeletons
We're secured from about $50
carcaSSes, but not live buff
falO was seen. The bones secured are
remarkably good specimens, owing to
the dry climate Of the region where
they were found. They are white and
well preserved. The best will be Sc
lected for Central park, the rest Will be
sent TO other museums i'll exchange for
specimens or other things. Two skins
We're brought back, but they were
bought from guides and were from buff
falOeS killed last year. 1t was learned
that parties of Crow and AasinibOine
Indians had been through the bad
lands" during the summer, and what
few buifal0eS We're there were probably
killed or driven south by the SavaseS.
In securing specimens of other ami
mails the expedition was Unexpectedly
successful. \ very large and interesting
series OF anteiOpeS were found at the
headwaterS OF the Big and Little Porcu-
pine.
GREAT SUCCESS WAS MET WITH
in shooting the prong-hOrned antelope
of the plain" which is very swift and
difficult TO get at. Some time ago it was
discovered that the animal, scientifically
known as the AntilOcapra Americana,
sheds its horns i'll manner different
from other deer, and intermediate be-
tween the horn-Shedding process of the
solid-hOrEed and hollOw-horned rumi-
nantS. The specimens of horns of all
ages and all stages, which are now on
their way TO this city, show this proc
eSS clearly, and prove that as the
old horn splits at the base and prepares
TO fall off, the hair growing up around
the pith of the new horn goes to form
the new horn. Valuable prairie wolves
were killed, varying in color from brick
red to one so gray that the cowboy
guides took it for gray wolf. Black
birds, sage grouse, prairie larkS, pintail
grouse, hawks and magpieS were shot
in large numbers. Some wildcats,
Canadian Iynxes and red lynxes were
killed, also a small sage rabbit, unlike
anything in the museum, and, probably,
something not heretofore classified.
The party also got complete series of
white footed mice IAN animal scientific
cally called HesHe omys leucopus)
From the "bad lands" at the head
quarters of the Big and Little Porcu-
pine, the expedition went thirtv-fve
miles south to the Muscle Shell River
district. The region has been but little
explored, and they found great difficulty
curate. At the Porcupine river camp
the weather had been very cold
and stormy, while at the new
camp it was dry and mild.
At this place a large number of
mule deer were killed. The mule deer
is one of the largest and finest of Amer
icau deer, and is fast becoming extinct.
because large numbers are killed an
nually for their hides, which are made
up into gloves. Shipments of from 500
to 1,009 hides are frequently made from
Miles City by one dealer alone. The ordi-
nary Virginia deer and the white-tailed
animals are not uncommon, and the last
were found in great numbers. Half a
dozen would run out of almost every
willow patch, and they could be shot as
easily as sheep. Birds were v,ry numer-
Gus. Bohemian waXWingS, which were
very scarce few years ago, and were
imported from Europe at considerable
expense, are very plentiful in the
nsghborhood of the Muscle Shell river.
They were found in flockS like black
birds, and as many as twelve were
killed in two shots. A number of
badgers and wildcats and one gray tim
Der wolf were shot. These
WOLVES ARE FAST DISAPPEARING.
They run in small packs behind buff
falO herds, living upon the injured and
the StragglerS. They are becoming quite
as rare as the buffalOeS. There is no
specimen of them in the museum at
Central park at present.
RumOrS Of buffalo in the north started
the party back to the Big and Little
POrcupine rivers just as the thermome-
ter shot down to zero and blindiug
snOwstorm set in, which had to be faced
for thirty-five miles. The rumor of
buffaloes seems to have originated in
the mind of an unemployed guide. who
was quite as willing to guide the party
after imaginary animals as after the
real. No buffalOeS were found
no tracks, even. Unwilling to
give up, the hunters searched day
after day for two weeks. camping on
the snow all the while with the mercury
ranging from zero to 200 below. At the
end of that time they started back over
the 200 miles to Miles City. The expe-
dition supplied itself entirely with fresh
meat. Some provisions were taken, of
course, but there was great plenty of
VeniSOn, with an occasional duck, and
the party Jared well. Over 400 pounds
of fresh game were left at the POrcu-
pine river camp.
''The way in which the buffalo is
going is something frightful," said Mr..
Richardson in speaking of the failure
to find even track OF, the animal i'm the
"bad land" district. 1--WE hunted the
country most thoroughly, and were led
by McNannie, the guide who conducted
the Hornaday expedition last wear. He
knows the country thoroughly well. and
is a very conscientious fellow. If there
had been any buffaloeS l think we
wouldshave found them"
In answer to a question as to whether
further attempts would be made to Sc
CUE buffalo hides, Mr.. Richardson said
that it was not atall likely that another
expedition would be sent out expressly
for that purpose. There are buffalos
in the Yellowstone park, protected by
law, and there is strong popular preiu-
dice against poachers. A few men do
hang about the outskirts of the park
and kill whatever game strays beyond
the limits. An occasional buffalo is Sc
cured in this way.
although we did not get what we
went after" continued Mr.. Richard
son, 1--WE secured so many other things
that the trip can not by any means be
called failure. Wherever a large
number of species can be examined at
once and compared, opportunity is
e. oF