The times., 1901-06-16
ADANGERogs BUFFALO.
Jock and His Family mt the Pitts
burg Zoo.
(From the Pittsburg Dispatch.)

tFrOm the GlttsDufE DlopatCh.1
OF the three representatives, of the rap
idly disappearing buffalo family in the
Highland Park Zoo, Jock, the Bison. as
he is called is at once the Oldest ana the
head of the family; Yet he Is compare
lively a youngSter. being only about eight
years old and the buffalo attains an age
of twenty-five or thirty years
Jock" was brought TO Pittsburg from
Chicago four years ago, and was untlI
two years ago one CT the Interesting IN
habitants of Schenley Park. Then ne was
transferred TO Highland his capture pre-
paratory TO removal involving great
amount Of trouble To lasso him was out
of the question. II might have cost the
life Of some one of those who undertook
II. So a trap was prepared, ard a week
was spent in useless efforts to lnduce the
animal TO walk into it. Finally Jock
was trapped and hauled to Highland in a
securely fastened wagon. There he has
remained ever since, in company with the
COW Nell" and Harry the calf born
two years ago. and a healthy specimen OF
the distinctively American bison ock
is rather an intTactable buffalo. Visitors
are not allowed to approach him a close
range. and even his keepers do not ven
ture upon any familiarities with him IN
fact they prefer to have as little TO do
with him as possible. and ne is permitted
to have his own way within the enclosure
that answers the purposes of rolling
prairie.
are of more doCile disposition They are
doing finely, and hays never given the zoo
authorities any apprehension as to health.
They have good appetites, are fed three
times a day, and eat with satisfaction
and a relish bran, oats, and VeSet& bIes
being especially partial to the latter.
The buffalo Is dirty animal He
thrives on il, and is never 50 happy as
when a rain makes mud in which he can
roll No attempt is made to enforce rules
Of personal cleanliness, and the efforts OF
the keepers are confined TO maintaining a
reasonable observance of sanitary meas
In
ty appearance of the buffalOeS has led
visitors to ina gine that they were not IN
the pink of health. but upon enquiry they
have learned that an untldy hide Is an
unfaiing. indication that buffalo IS feel
ing Al his best.
Few animals at the zoo have greater
1 interest for the masses OF visitors tnan
the buffalo family. The species is fast
becoming extinct. and about the only
remnants OF the race are to be found IN
the geological gardens and the Govern
ment's Yellowstone Park. The specimens
at Highland could not be purchased at
any price because Of the rarity Of the
tribe Especially is the COW Nell held at
high value. for so far the zoo authori-
ties know il is impossible to buy female
buffalo anywhere. A trial was made some
time ago, and resulted in failure The
Government would not part with one, and
the ZOOS possessing them placed pro-
hibitive prices upon them
Great expectations are entertained or
the calf Harry. He is q promising Specl-
men OF the race, and the TACT that ne
was born in captivity and in the hauntS
of civilization is not believed to be likely
to render him a degenerate. Although
but two years of age, he is only slightly
smaller than his mother. and makes
respectable showing in comparison with
the old man himself. The weight of Jock
is placed at !. 100 pounds. 1t is merely an
estimate None of his keepers has had
the temCrity to place him on the scales
a majority of stra ngers at the zoo ask
to be shown the buffalo pen. Those who
see the animal for the first time eX
anime him with an interest that indicates
familiarity with the history Of the buff
falo. who was once numbered by the
thousands. but who has been reduced to
a few hundreds, thanks TO the encroach-
ments of civilization and the unerring
aim OF the hunter.