The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-17
THE LAST BUFFALO.
Less Than One Hundred Now Left in
the United States.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Washington, Feb. S.-The scientists Of
Washington are much alarmed at the pos
sible extinction of the buffalo. Mr.. Lang
ley, the head of the Smithsonian institute,
does not think there are as many as 100
buffaloes left in the United States. There
are few here in the National Park, and
a small herd at Philadelphia. Austin Cor
bin, the New York millionaire, has sew
eral, and it may be that there are some
small scattering herds in different parts
of the west OF these, however, the
Smithsonian Institute has no record, and
such as exist are probably half-breeds.
The only pure buffaloes outside of the
above are those of the Yellowstone Park
which two years ago numbered about 200
head, and which are now reduced to 90
Mr.. Langley has just received letters stat
ing that ten of these animals have been
killed, within the past four months, and
that the others are in danger. The chances
are that they will last only short time
and congress has been notified that if
something is not done at once this won
derful animal will disappear from the
face of the earth. There are no other
buffaloes on the earth but these. The
small herds of the east cannot be made
to perpetuate the buffalo without inbreed-
ing, which will deteriorate the species,
and it's only salvation is the bringing of
these from the Yellowstone Park to some
point where they can be carefully watched
and cared for.
1t is Mr.. Langley's idea that they should
be brought to Washington and put in the
National geological park mere. The main
purpose of purchasing this park was for
the protection of such things as the buff
falo and other American animals liable to
become extinct 1t contains plenty of
ground for a good buffalo park, and if
these buffaloes can be put in they will
serve as a nucleus for the raising of buffa-
loes, which can be supplied to the differ
ent geological gardens of the United States
and furnished to colonies of them over the
country, by which the species can be per-
petuated Prof. Goode, the head of the Ma
floral museum, says that we ought to have
at least 100 buffaloeS in order to maintain
the species, and that there should be herds
in different sections of the country, the
animals of which might be interchanged
to prevent the deterioration which the in
breeding of a single colony would produce.
One of the largest buffaloes ever known
was shot by Mr.. Hornaday. 1t is now pre-
served in the National museum. 1t is five
feet eight inches high at the shoulders
and is ten feet two inches long from nose
to tail. Many buf1aioes weigh over 1,6W
pounds. The natural life of the animal is
about % years. The cows usually breed
once a year, and begin breeding at the age
of two wears. The buffalo calf at birth is
a,Sered with red hair This hair changes
after a. time to brown and then black. The
hair on the head of buffalo is very long.
Many a woman, in fact, would be glad 20
have as long hair as that of one of the
stuffed buffaloes in the National museum,
which measures am told, p inches.
. The best time to look at a buffalo is in
the fall or winter. In the summer he is
as ragged, ugly and dirty as any animal
on earth He sheds his hair every year,
beginning about February. The hair comes
off a little at time 1t often hangs in
punches to his black skin, and he will
fight you if you touch it. He is troubled
by the flies at this time, but he goes off
to the nearest mudhole and rolls in it un-
til he has plastered his body with mud. If
the hole is not deep enough he will dig it
out with his horns and head, and will
then get in ard roll over until his entire
skin is coated He carries such coats of
mud throughout the summer, and about
the first of October he comes out with
full suit of beautiful black hair, which