Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26
Shed Their Heavy Coats in Spring

DurlilS the spring the DundloeS look their
worst; they are shedding their heavy winter
coats. which fall from the body in patches.
giving the animals ragged appearance.
Before falling, the patches often hang by
one edge or even by corner, and flap
about in the wind the animal moves BY
July, as a rule, the entire coat with the ex-
ception of the long hair on the forepart of
the body, which is not shed annually like
the rest has fallen away, leaving the skin
almost as bare as if it had been shaved.
1t is at this stage that the animal some
what resembles a lion noted in the very
earliest descriptions. 1t is at this season,
too, that the flies become, or did become,
troublesome when the buffalo roamed over
its natural range.
1t is thought that it was partly to get
relief from these flies that the buffalo used
to indulge in his favorite pastime of wal
lowing. When a herd came to moist or
swamp ground one of them, old bull,
perhaps would kneel down, lay the side of
his head on the ground and roll over on his
back and kick his heels in the air When
he arose his weight had made slight de-
preston in the ground, and into this the
water drained, forming puddle. The next
buffalo which rolled in this spot increased
the depth of this hollow, which at length
became muddy slough, two or three feet
deep and perhaps fifteen or twenty feet in
diameter. These old buffalo wallows may
yet be seen In the still unsettled parts of
the buffalo country, and ara conspicuous
for long distance on account Of the lux
uriouS vegetation which has grown up In
consequence of the moisture and the rich
mud.
Peaceable as a Rule.
AS rule. buffaloes are peaceable ami
mals-quite as much SO as domestic cattle.
In fact. with rare exceptions buffalo bull,
grim he looks. is very much less danger
Gus than domestic bull of the same age.
Buffaloes have been ranging Corbin Park
for the past sixteen years, and there have
been anywhere from dozen to seventy-five
bulls in the herd during this time, yet not
a single person of the thousands who have
passed through the park has been injured
by one. Had there been half as many do
nestle bulls there would probably be
long list of casualties had the people con-
tinued to enter the preserve. To be sure,
an old bull occasionally becomes short-tem-
pered and does not care to be hurried II he
happens to be crossing road when car
rage Is going past. ! once met one of these
old fellows In clearing in the woods and
he gave me a run for my life. If, however,
I had cared to take the trouble to walk a
hundred yards out of my way there would
have been no trouble
1t happened in this way. l was walking
through the woods, and suddenly came out
into a clearing, to find there huge Dull
buffalo who looked as though he were vexed
with the world in general, and with me In
particular. He rolled his eyes until nothing
showed but the whites, paved the earth,
snorted and twitched his tail as buffaloes
usually do when they are angry. Wisdom
suggested that L give him a wide berth, but
to know an animal thoroughly one must
note his behavior under all kinds of circum-
stances, and 1 did not know when, if ever,
/ should have so good an opportunity to see
an angry buffalo chase a man. A glance
showed that the ground was clear of sticks
and other obstacles, and not d long way OF
there was q large white pine which be-
lieved L could reach ahead of the buffalo
in the event of a race. The opportunity to
back my opinion came very quickly, Tor
one step toward the buffalo caused him to
make up his mind, and l saw the hairy,
muscular brute coming my way-a two
thousand-pound projectile, which fairly
Kissed through the grass of the clearing.
I could see no advantage in waiting
race, SO made the very most of my handl-
cap and sprinted for the white pine faster
than | should ever have done for. medal.
It came very near being literally dead
heat, and I made up my mind that If ever
again | ventured to race with buffalo the
contest should take place with a stout fence
between US.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.