Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
STORY OF THE BUFFALO
HABITS OF THE ANIMALS WHEN
THEY RoAMED THE PLAINS.
Their Migrations Not Believed to
Have Been Extensive-Follow-
ing Old Trails to Water.

Written for The Star.
AS we have seen. the buffalo was grega-
rious in its habits. but at certain seasons
the herds were larger and more compact
than at others. Especially was this true Of
the breeding season. which came chiefly in
July and August Then vast hordes gath
cred on the plains. which were the scenes Of
the greatest activity for several weeks, dur
ing which the roaring of the bulls was
continuous and could be heard for miles.
There was also much fighting among the
bulls. and. while these combats occasionally
resulted fatally usually they did not, and q
few gashes in the tough hide or q broken
horn were a r1rte. the worst injuries
suffered by the vanquished monster. After
the breeding season the herds became less
solved into groups of from twenty to hun
dred or two. and the usual peaceful life was
resumed.
Sometimes. after the running" season,
herds were found which consisted entirely
OF bulls. and other herds or groups which
contained only cows and young bulls The
animals were nomadtc and wandered from
place to place In search OF the best food.
Having found a fertile spot. they would stop
to Craze and might remain for several days
or even longer. II there was water near at
hand. It seems to have been their custom
to lie down during the middle Of the day.
Migrations Not Extensive.
There is no doubt that buffaloes were mi
gratory. but their migratiors were probably
not nearly 80 extensive many people
have supposed. Although the animals were
found in numbers at the northern limit OF
their range in summer and at the extreme
southern limit Of it in winter, 1t Is not to be
imagined that those which were seen in the
xr,6t Lob,
peared on the plains of Mexico. At all sea-
sons there were some buffalo to be found at
both the northern and southern limits of
the range. There was probably a regular
swinging north and south of practically the
whole mass: movement somewhat like
that of crows and certain other birds-a
journeying of possibly hundreds rather than
of thousands of miles.
In their ordinary wanderings nufraloes
frequently Travelled far away from water,
but as they became thirsty the herd would
start in search of some spring or water
&C urse. The lead would be taken by
single individual, perhaps some experienced
old COW, and the rest Of the bunch, perhaps
one or two hundred, would fall In behind.
If they were In a part OF the country regu-
larly freuuented by bufaloes they would
probably soon find an old trail leading to
the nearest water. This they would follow.
cutting this well-defned path still deeper.
These trails were sometimes worn to
depth of four feet below the surrounding
country and varied In width from foot or
two to that of great broad road.
The principal trails usually extended
north and south and connected the rivers,
which in the main run east and west. Such
trails also led to the great salt ticks, such
as the Big Bone lick in Kentucky, which
was frequented by huffaloes In vast num-
bers up to the beginning of the last CEN
fury, when of course the animal disap-
peared forever from the country east of
"a MicSiScppi The nguAl gait the
buffalo, when level ground, was a
rather rapid, swinging walk, with the mas
sive head swaying In unison with the
stride, and with the long banners OF dark
hair streaming from the forelegs.
Gait of the Buffalo.
When alarmed however. or when de-
scending steep hill or mountain, the whole
herd would break into gallop. and travel
at great speed. causing the earth to tremble
beneath the shock of their myriad hoofs.
This gait OF the buffalo has been described
by some writers as Clumsy" but cannot
agree with this in the least. Considering
the great weight of the animal, the gallop
of buffalo is to my mind very easy, elias
tic movement. 1t suggests the bounding Of
a gigantic rubber ball.
In the wild state, the buffalo was a very
sure-footed animal and good climber. 1t
not only assembled steep mountains, along
narrow lodges. where It would have been
quite impossible for a horse or even for q
mule to have followed, but was able to leap
downward in places where there was a
sheer descent of several feet and alight In
safety on the rocks below.
The buffaIoes now in Corbin Park, N. H..
where I have been studying them for the
past two years, do not seem to have lost
any of this o1d-time agility, as they seem
to delight in journeying UP steep ascents
to some of the highest points Of Croydon
mountain. and 1 have seen them leaping
nimbly down from points four and Ave
feet above the ground where they landed
safely Their cleverness In this direction
may be due in part to their ability to
spread their toes apart while their feet are
still In the air. thus giving them a better
hold on the ground and at the same time
distributing the shock. AS rule, however.
In going from place to place with any par
ticular ObJect-water, for example-buffa-
loes now, as In former times take the most
direct route, and the best trails In Corbin
Park today are the buffalo trails.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.