Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-14

over they were fat and in unusually fine condition owing to the heavy crop of ap- ples on which they had been feeding for many weeks. But the buffaloes de- pend largely on the food they can get upon the ground, and besides these ani- mals are now too rare for any chances to be taken with the finest herd in the world Down in the southeastern part of the reservation, in an enclosure known as Central station or No. l. large yards have been made as winter quarters for buffaloes. and here, once the animals are rounded up, it is com parauvely simple matter to feed them. But 24,000 acres is large place, and buffaloes are not given to taking orders from anyone. so it is not the easiest thing in the world to persuade them to seek a particular part of the preserve and allow themselves to be shut up in buffalo yards. However, it is well known that buffaloes once started along a trail which they have been over be- fore are very apt to stick to that trail unless there is some good cause for their leaving it.
 So, when one day. about the first of January, the men who had the work in hand, surrounded the main buffalo herd on a plain in the northwestern part of the park. they gently urged them towards the entrance to trail. and into this the animals turned. Five miles away the trail reached point to | which farm wagon had been driven, and when the buffaloes arrived they found a little hay waiting for them They. quickly ate it. and just beyond there was little more, and a little more beyond that again. The hungry anil mals walked along. picking up the hay as they went. and naturally enough. after they had travelled thus for ten miles. they found themselves at night fall on the other side of the mountain. and about five miles from the buffalo yards. Here in some open fields they halted for the night and the men who had surrounded them went home. On returning early the next morning they found most of the buffaloes picking up a scanty meal from patches of bare ground to be seen here and there. but ! t.A COWS with their wellgrown calves wire missing. They were oyertaken l five miles away.
 | In the meantime the main herd was urged and led quietly along to a large inclosnre known as No. 2. whence they were easily driven into the buffalo yards. Here they were taken in charge by Wi!- liam Morrison. expert in the breeding and handling of buIaloes. and he di- vided them into groups according to their age and sex. In the first yard were l placed all the calves of the previous spring; in the second. number of old | bulls: in the third. young bulls and heifers. and SO on through seven or eight inclosures.
 i Each buffalo shed has loft in which the hay is stored. and from which it car be. tossed down into racks below. Eacf full-grown buffalo eats about thret tons during the winter: each calf con sumes about half ton. and his allow. ance of hay increases about half a tou a winter with each succeeding year un. til he reaches maturity. Tn this way the animals will be provided for until May. when the entire herd. including the COWS with their young calves. will
 be turned loose to wander at will oyel the great preserve. and to shift fo. themselves until the snow storms oi next December again cut of theil natural supply of food