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Below this point they never
descended in any numbers. | About 1834 or 1835 they began to diminish very
rapidly, and continued to decrease until 1838 or 1840, when, with the
country we have just described, they entirely abandoned all the waters
of the Pacific north of Lewis's Fork of the Columbia [now called Snake]
River. |
|
About 1834 or 1835 they began to diminish very
rapidly, and continued to decrease until 1838 or 1840, when, with the
country we have just described, they entirely abandoned all the waters
of the Pacific north of Lewis's Fork of the Columbia [now called Snake]
River. | At that time the Flathead Indians were in the habit of finding
their buffalo on the heads of Salmon River and other streams of the
Columbia.
|
|
At that time the Flathead Indians were in the habit of finding
their buffalo on the heads of Salmon River and other streams of the
Columbia.
| OREGON.--The only evidence on record of the occurrence of the bison in
Oregon is the following, from Professor Allen's memoir (p. 119):
"Respecting its former occurrence in eastern Oregon, Prof. O. C. Marsh,
under date of New Haven, February 7, 1875, writes me as follows: 'The
most western point at which I have myself observed remains of the
buffalo was in 187 on Willow Creek, eastern Oregon, among the foot hills
of the eastern side of the Blue Mountains. |
|
OREGON.--The only evidence on record of the occurrence of the bison in
Oregon is the following, from Professor Allen's memoir (p. 119):
"Respecting its former occurrence in eastern Oregon, Prof. O. C. Marsh,
under date of New Haven, February 7, 1875, writes me as follows: 'The
most western point at which I have myself observed remains of the
buffalo was in 187 on Willow Creek, eastern Oregon, among the foot hills
of the eastern side of the Blue Mountains. | This is about latitude 44°.
|
|
This is about latitude 44°.
| The bones were perfectly characteristic, although nearly decomposed.' |
|
The bones were perfectly characteristic, although nearly decomposed.' | "
The remains must have been those of a solitary and very enterprising
straggler.
|
|
"
The remains must have been those of a solitary and very enterprising
straggler.
| THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (British).--At two or three points only did
the buffaloes of the British Possessions cross the Rocky Mountain
barrier toward British Columbia. |
|
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (British).--At two or three points only did
the buffaloes of the British Possessions cross the Rocky Mountain
barrier toward British Columbia. | One was the pass through which the
Canadian Pacific Railway now runs, 200 miles north of the international
boundary. |
|
One was the pass through which the
Canadian Pacific Railway now runs, 200 miles north of the international
boundary. | According to Dr. Richardson, the number of buffaloes which
crossed the mountains at that point were sufficiently noticeable to
constitute a feature of the fauna on the western side of the range. |
|
According to Dr. Richardson, the number of buffaloes which
crossed the mountains at that point were sufficiently noticeable to
constitute a feature of the fauna on the western side of the range. | It
is said that buffaloes also crossed by way of the Kootenai Pass, which
is only a few miles north of the boundary line, but the number which did
so must have been very small.
|
|
It
is said that buffaloes also crossed by way of the Kootenai Pass, which
is only a few miles north of the boundary line, but the number which did
so must have been very small.
| As might be expected from the character of the country, the favorite
range of the bison in British America was the northern extension of the
great pasture region lying between the Missouri River and Great Slave
Lake. |
|
As might be expected from the character of the country, the favorite
range of the bison in British America was the northern extension of the
great pasture region lying between the Missouri River and Great Slave
Lake. | The most northerly occurrence of the bison is recorded as an
observation of Franklin in 1820 at Slave Point, on the north side of
Great Slave Lake. |
|
The most northerly occurrence of the bison is recorded as an
observation of Franklin in 1820 at Slave Point, on the north side of
Great Slave Lake. | "A few frequent Slave Point, on the north side of the
lake, but this is the most northern situation in which they were
observed by Captain Franklin's party. |
|
"A few frequent Slave Point, on the north side of the
lake, but this is the most northern situation in which they were
observed by Captain Franklin's party. | "[17]
|
|
"[17]
| [Note 17: Sabine, Zoological Appendix to "Franklin's Journey," p. 668.]
Dr. Richardson defined the eastern boundary of the bison's range in
British America as follows: "They do not frequent any of the districts
formed of primitive rocks, and the limits of their range to the
eastward, within the Hudson's Bay Company's territories, may be
correctly marked on the map by a line commencing in longitude 97°, on
the Red River, which flows into the south end of Lake Winnipeg, crossing
the Saskatchewan to the westward of the Basquian Hill, and running
thence by the Athapescow to the east end of Great Slave Lake." |
|
[Note 17: Sabine, Zoological Appendix to "Franklin's Journey," p. 668.]
Dr. Richardson defined the eastern boundary of the bison's range in
British America as follows: "They do not frequent any of the districts
formed of primitive rocks, and the limits of their range to the
eastward, within the Hudson's Bay Company's territories, may be
correctly marked on the map by a line commencing in longitude 97°, on
the Red River, which flows into the south end of Lake Winnipeg, crossing
the Saskatchewan to the westward of the Basquian Hill, and running
thence by the Athapescow to the east end of Great Slave Lake." | Their
migrations westward were formerly limited to the Rocky Mountain range,
and they are still unknown in New Caledonia and on the shores of the
Pacific to the north of the Columbia River; but of late years they have
found out a passage across the mountains near the sources of the
Saskatchewan, and their numbers to the westward are annually
increasing.[18]
|
|
Their
migrations westward were formerly limited to the Rocky Mountain range,
and they are still unknown in New Caledonia and on the shores of the
Pacific to the north of the Columbia River; but of late years they have
found out a passage across the mountains near the sources of the
Saskatchewan, and their numbers to the westward are annually
increasing.[18]
| [Note 18: Fauna Boreali-Americana, vol. 1, p, 279-280.]
|
|
[Note 18: Fauna Boreali-Americana, vol. 1, p, 279-280.]
| _Great Slave Lake._--That the buffalo inhabited the southern shore of
this lake as late as 1871 is well established by the following letter
from Mr. E. W. Nelson to Mr. J. A. Allen, under date of July 11,
1877:[19] "I have met here [St. Michaels, Alaska] two gentlemen who
crossed the mountains from British Columbia and came to Fort Yukon
through British America, from whom I have derived some information about
the buffalo (_Bison americanus_) which will be of interest to you. |
|
_Great Slave Lake._--That the buffalo inhabited the southern shore of
this lake as late as 1871 is well established by the following letter
from Mr. E. W. Nelson to Mr. J. A. Allen, under date of July 11,
1877:[19] "I have met here [St. Michaels, Alaska] two gentlemen who
crossed the mountains from British Columbia and came to Fort Yukon
through British America, from whom I have derived some information about
the buffalo (_Bison americanus_) which will be of interest to you. | These
gentlemen descended the Peace River, and on about the one hundred and
eighteenth degree of longitude made a portage to Hay River, directly
north. |
|
These
gentlemen descended the Peace River, and on about the one hundred and
eighteenth degree of longitude made a portage to Hay River, directly
north. | On this portage they saw thousands of buffalo skulls, and old
trails, in some instances 2 or 3 feet deep, leading east and west. |
|
On this portage they saw thousands of buffalo skulls, and old
trails, in some instances 2 or 3 feet deep, leading east and west. | They
wintered on Hay River near its entrance into Great Slave Lake, and here
found the buffalo still common, occupying a restricted territory along
the southern border of the lake. |
|
They
wintered on Hay River near its entrance into Great Slave Lake, and here
found the buffalo still common, occupying a restricted territory along
the southern border of the lake. | This was in 1871. |
|
This was in 1871. | They made inquiry
concerning the large number of skulls seen by them on the portage, and
learned that about fifty years before, snow fell to the estimated depth
of 14 feet, and so enveloped the animals that they perished by
thousands. |
|
They made inquiry
concerning the large number of skulls seen by them on the portage, and
learned that about fifty years before, snow fell to the estimated depth
of 14 feet, and so enveloped the animals that they perished by
thousands. | It is asserted that these buffaloes are larger than those of
the plains. |
|
It is asserted that these buffaloes are larger than those of
the plains. | "
[Note 19: American Naturalist, xi, p. 624.]
MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN.--A line drawn from Winnipeg to Chicago, curving
slightly to the eastward in the middle portion, will very nearly define
the eastern boundary of the buffalo's range in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
|
|
"
[Note 19: American Naturalist, xi, p. 624.]
MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN.--A line drawn from Winnipeg to Chicago, curving
slightly to the eastward in the middle portion, will very nearly define
the eastern boundary of the buffalo's range in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
| ILLINOIS AND |
|
ILLINOIS AND | INDIANA.--The whole of these two States were formerly
inhabited by the buffalo, the fertile prairies of Illinois being
particularly suited to their needs. |
|
INDIANA.--The whole of these two States were formerly
inhabited by the buffalo, the fertile prairies of Illinois being
particularly suited to their needs. | It is doubtful whether the range of
the species extended north of the northern boundary of Indiana, but
since southern Michigan was as well adapted to their support as Ohio or
Indiana, their absence from that State must have been due more to
accident than design.
|
|
It is doubtful whether the range of
the species extended north of the northern boundary of Indiana, but
since southern Michigan was as well adapted to their support as Ohio or
Indiana, their absence from that State must have been due more to
accident than design.
| OHIO.--The southern shore of Lake Erie forms part of the northern
boundary of the bison's range in the eastern United States. |
|
OHIO.--The southern shore of Lake Erie forms part of the northern
boundary of the bison's range in the eastern United States. | La Hontan
explored Lake Erie in 1687 and thus describes its southern shore: "I can
not express what quantities of Deer and Turkeys are to be found in these
Woods, and in the vast Meads that lye upon the South side of the Lake.
|
|
La Hontan
explored Lake Erie in 1687 and thus describes its southern shore: "I can
not express what quantities of Deer and Turkeys are to be found in these
Woods, and in the vast Meads that lye upon the South side of the Lake.
| At the bottom of the Lake we find beeves upon the Banks of two pleasant
Rivers that disembogue into it, without Cataracts or Rapid
Currents. |
|
At the bottom of the Lake we find beeves upon the Banks of two pleasant
Rivers that disembogue into it, without Cataracts or Rapid
Currents. | "[20] It thus appears that the southern shore of Lake Erie
forms part of the northern boundary of the buffalo's range in the
eastern United States.
|
|
"[20] It thus appears that the southern shore of Lake Erie
forms part of the northern boundary of the buffalo's range in the
eastern United States.
| [Note 20: J. A. Allen's _American Bisons_, p. 107.]
|
|
[Note 20: J. A. Allen's _American Bisons_, p. 107.]
| NEW YORK.--In regard to the presence of the bison in any portion of the
State of New York, Professor Allen considers the evidence as fairly
conclusive that it once existed in western New York, not only in the
vicinity of the eastern end of Lake Erie, where now stands the city of
Buffalo, at the mouth of a large creek of the same name, but also on the
shore of Lake Ontario, probably in Orleans County. |
|
NEW YORK.--In regard to the presence of the bison in any portion of the
State of New York, Professor Allen considers the evidence as fairly
conclusive that it once existed in western New York, not only in the
vicinity of the eastern end of Lake Erie, where now stands the city of
Buffalo, at the mouth of a large creek of the same name, but also on the
shore of Lake Ontario, probably in Orleans County. | In his monograph of
"The American Bisons," page 107, he gives the following testimony and
conclusions on this point:
"The occurrence of a stream in western New York, called Buffalo Creek,
which empties into the eastern end of Lake Erie, is commonly viewed as
traditional evidence of its occurrence at this point, but positive
testimony to this effect has thus far escaped me.
|
|
In his monograph of
"The American Bisons," page 107, he gives the following testimony and
conclusions on this point:
"The occurrence of a stream in western New York, called Buffalo Creek,
which empties into the eastern end of Lake Erie, is commonly viewed as
traditional evidence of its occurrence at this point, but positive
testimony to this effect has thus far escaped me.
| "This locality, if it actually came so far eastward, must have formed
the eastern limit of its range along the lakes. |
|
"This locality, if it actually came so far eastward, must have formed
the eastern limit of its range along the lakes. | I have found only highly
questionable allusions to the occurrence of buffaloes along the southern
shore of Lake Ontario. |
|
I have found only highly
questionable allusions to the occurrence of buffaloes along the southern
shore of Lake Ontario. | Keating, on the authority of Colhoun, however,
has cited a passage from Morton's "New English Canaan" as proof of their
former existence in the neighborhood of this lake. |
|
Keating, on the authority of Colhoun, however,
has cited a passage from Morton's "New English Canaan" as proof of their
former existence in the neighborhood of this lake. | Morton's statement is
based on Indian reports, and the context gives sufficient evidence of
the general vagueness of his knowledge of the region of which he was
speaking. |
|
Morton's statement is
based on Indian reports, and the context gives sufficient evidence of
the general vagueness of his knowledge of the region of which he was
speaking. | The passage, printed in 1637 is as follows: |
|
The passage, printed in 1637 is as follows: | They [the Indians]
have also made descriptions of great heards of well growne beasts that
live about the parts of this lake |
|
They [the Indians]
have also made descriptions of great heards of well growne beasts that
live about the parts of this lake | [Erocoise] such as the Christian world
(untill this discovery) hath not bin made acquainted with. |
|
[Erocoise] such as the Christian world
(untill this discovery) hath not bin made acquainted with. | These Beasts
are of the bignesse of a Cowe, their flesh being very good foode, their
hides good lether, their fleeces very usefull, being a kinde of wolle as
fine almost as the wolle of the Beaver, and the Salvages doe make
garments thereof. |
|
These Beasts
are of the bignesse of a Cowe, their flesh being very good foode, their
hides good lether, their fleeces very usefull, being a kinde of wolle as
fine almost as the wolle of the Beaver, and the Salvages doe make
garments thereof. | It is tenne yeares since first the relation of these
things came to the eares of the English.' |
|
It is tenne yeares since first the relation of these
things came to the eares of the English.' | The 'beast' to which allusion
is here made [says Professor Allen] is unquestionably the buffalo, but
the locality of Lake 'Erocoise' is not so easily settled. |
|
The 'beast' to which allusion
is here made [says Professor Allen] is unquestionably the buffalo, but
the locality of Lake 'Erocoise' is not so easily settled. | Colhoun
regards it, and probably correctly, as identical with Lake Ontario. |
|
Colhoun
regards it, and probably correctly, as identical with Lake Ontario. | * |
|
* | *
* |
|
*
* | The extreme northeastern limit of the former range of the buffalo
seems to have been, as above stated, in western New York, near the
eastern end of Lake Erie. |
|
The extreme northeastern limit of the former range of the buffalo
seems to have been, as above stated, in western New York, near the
eastern end of Lake Erie. | That it probably ranged thus far there is fair
evidence. |
|
That it probably ranged thus far there is fair
evidence. | "
|
|
"
| PENNSYLVANIA.--From the eastern end of Lake Erie the boundary of the
bison's habitat extends south into western Pennsylvania, to a marsh
called Buffalo Swamp on a map published by Peter Kalm in 1771. |
|
PENNSYLVANIA.--From the eastern end of Lake Erie the boundary of the
bison's habitat extends south into western Pennsylvania, to a marsh
called Buffalo Swamp on a map published by Peter Kalm in 1771. | Professor
Allen says it "is indicated as situated between the Alleghany River and
the West Branch of the Susquehanna, near the heads of the Licking and
Toby's Creeks (apparently the streams now called Oil Creek and Clarion
Creek)." |
|
Professor
Allen says it "is indicated as situated between the Alleghany River and
the West Branch of the Susquehanna, near the heads of the Licking and
Toby's Creeks (apparently the streams now called Oil Creek and Clarion
Creek)." | In this region there were at one time thousands of buffaloes.
|
|
In this region there were at one time thousands of buffaloes.
| While there is not at hand any positive evidence that the buffalo ever
inhabited the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania, its presence in the
locality mentioned above, and in West Virginia generally, on the south,
furnishes sufficient reason for extending the boundary so as to include
the southwestern portion of the State and connect with our starting
point, the District of Columbia.
III. |
|
While there is not at hand any positive evidence that the buffalo ever
inhabited the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania, its presence in the
locality mentioned above, and in West Virginia generally, on the south,
furnishes sufficient reason for extending the boundary so as to include
the southwestern portion of the State and connect with our starting
point, the District of Columbia.
III. | ABUNDANCE.
|
|
ABUNDANCE.
| Of all the quadrupeds that have lived upon the earth, probably no other
species has ever marshaled such innumerable hosts as those of the
American bison. |
|
Of all the quadrupeds that have lived upon the earth, probably no other
species has ever marshaled such innumerable hosts as those of the
American bison. | It would have been as easy to count or to estimate the
number of leaves in a forest as to calculate the number of buffaloes
living at any given time during the history of the species previous to
1870. |
|
It would have been as easy to count or to estimate the
number of leaves in a forest as to calculate the number of buffaloes
living at any given time during the history of the species previous to
1870. | Even in South Central Africa, which has always been exceedingly
prolific in great herds of game, it is probable that all its quadrupeds
taken together on an equal area would never have more than equaled the
total number of buffalo in this country forty years ago.
|
|
Even in South Central Africa, which has always been exceedingly
prolific in great herds of game, it is probable that all its quadrupeds
taken together on an equal area would never have more than equaled the
total number of buffalo in this country forty years ago.
| To an African hunter, such a statement may seem incredible, but it
appears to be fully warranted by the literature of both branches of the
subject.
|
|
To an African hunter, such a statement may seem incredible, but it
appears to be fully warranted by the literature of both branches of the
subject.
| Not only did the buffalo formerly range eastward far into the forest
regions of western New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Carolinas, and
Georgia, but in some places it was so abundant as to cause remark. |
|
Not only did the buffalo formerly range eastward far into the forest
regions of western New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Carolinas, and
Georgia, but in some places it was so abundant as to cause remark. | In
Mr. J. A. Allen's valuable monograph[21] appear a great number of
interesting historical references on this subject, as indeed to every
other relating to the buffalo, a few of which I will take the liberty of
quoting.
|
|
In
Mr. J. A. Allen's valuable monograph[21] appear a great number of
interesting historical references on this subject, as indeed to every
other relating to the buffalo, a few of which I will take the liberty of
quoting.
| [Note 21: All who are especially interested in the life history of the
buffalo, both scientific and economical, will do well to consult Mr.
Allen's monograph, "The American Bisons, Living and Extinct," if it be
accessible. |
|
[Note 21: All who are especially interested in the life history of the
buffalo, both scientific and economical, will do well to consult Mr.
Allen's monograph, "The American Bisons, Living and Extinct," if it be
accessible. | Unfortunately it is a difficult matter for the general
reader to obtain it. |
|
Unfortunately it is a difficult matter for the general
reader to obtain it. | A reprint of the work as originally published, but
omitting the map, plates, and such of the subject-matter as relates to
the extinct species, appears in Hayden's "Report of the Geological
Survey of the Territories," for 1875 (pp. 443-587), but the volume has
for several years been out of print.
|
|
A reprint of the work as originally published, but
omitting the map, plates, and such of the subject-matter as relates to
the extinct species, appears in Hayden's "Report of the Geological
Survey of the Territories," for 1875 (pp. 443-587), but the volume has
for several years been out of print.
| The memoir as originally published has the following titles:
_ |
|
The memoir as originally published has the following titles:
_ | Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Kentucky.| N. S. Shaler, Director.|
Vol. I. Part II.|--| |
|
Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Kentucky.| N. S. Shaler, Director.|
Vol. I. Part II.|--| | The American Bisons,| living and extinct.| By J. A.
|
|
The American Bisons,| living and extinct.| By J. A.
| Allen.| |
|
Allen.| | With twelve plates and map.|--| University press, Cambridge:|
Welch, Bigelow & Co.| 1876._
|
|
With twelve plates and map.|--| University press, Cambridge:|
Welch, Bigelow & Co.| 1876._
| _Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology,| at Harvard College,
Cambridge, Mass.| Vol. |
|
_Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology,| at Harvard College,
Cambridge, Mass.| Vol. | IV. |
|
IV. | No. 10.|--| |
|
No. 10.|--| | The American Bisons,| living and
extinct.| By J. A. Allen.| Published by permission of N. S. Shaler,
Director of the Kentucky| Geological Survey.| With twelve plates and a
map.| University press, Cambridge:| Welch, Bigelow & Co.| 1876.|_
_4to., pp. |
|
The American Bisons,| living and
extinct.| By J. A. Allen.| Published by permission of N. S. Shaler,
Director of the Kentucky| Geological Survey.| With twelve plates and a
map.| University press, Cambridge:| Welch, Bigelow & Co.| 1876.|_
_4to., pp. | i-ix, 1-246, 1 col'd map, 12 pl., 13 ll. |
|
i-ix, 1-246, 1 col'd map, 12 pl., 13 ll. | explanatory, 2
wood-cuts in text. |
|
explanatory, 2
wood-cuts in text. | _
|
|
_
| These two publications were simultaneous, and only differed in the
titles. |
|
These two publications were simultaneous, and only differed in the
titles. | Unfortunately both are of greater rarity than the reprint
referred to above.]
|
|
Unfortunately both are of greater rarity than the reprint
referred to above.]
| In the vicinity of the spot where the town of Clarion now stands, in
northwestern Pennsylvania, Mr. Thomas Ashe relates that one of the first
settlers built his log cabin near a salt spring which was visited by
buffaloes in such numbers that "he supposed there could not have been
less than two thousand in the neighborhood of the spring." |
|
In the vicinity of the spot where the town of Clarion now stands, in
northwestern Pennsylvania, Mr. Thomas Ashe relates that one of the first
settlers built his log cabin near a salt spring which was visited by
buffaloes in such numbers that "he supposed there could not have been
less than two thousand in the neighborhood of the spring." | During the
first years of his residence there, the buffaloes came in droves of
about three hundred each.
|
|
During the
first years of his residence there, the buffaloes came in droves of
about three hundred each.
| Of the Blue Licks in Kentucky, Mr. John Filson thus wrote, in 1784: "The
amazing herds of buffaloes which resort thither, by their size and
number, fill the traveller with amazement and terror, especially when
he beholds the prodigious roads they have made from all quarters, as if
leading to some populous city; the vast space of land around these
springs desolated as if by a ravaging enemy, and hills reduced to
plains; for the land near these springs is chiefly hilly. |
|
Of the Blue Licks in Kentucky, Mr. John Filson thus wrote, in 1784: "The
amazing herds of buffaloes which resort thither, by their size and
number, fill the traveller with amazement and terror, especially when
he beholds the prodigious roads they have made from all quarters, as if
leading to some populous city; the vast space of land around these
springs desolated as if by a ravaging enemy, and hills reduced to
plains; for the land near these springs is chiefly hilly. | * |
|
* | * |
|
* | * I have
heard a hunter assert he saw above one thousand buffaloes at the Blue
Licks at once; so numerous were they before the first settlers had
wantonly sported away their lives." |
|
* I have
heard a hunter assert he saw above one thousand buffaloes at the Blue
Licks at once; so numerous were they before the first settlers had
wantonly sported away their lives." | Col. Daniel Boone declared of the
Red River region in Kentucky, "The buffaloes were more frequent than I
have seen cattle in the settlements, browzing on the leaves of the cane,
or cropping the herbage of those extensive plains, fearless because
ignorant of the violence of man. |
|
Col. Daniel Boone declared of the
Red River region in Kentucky, "The buffaloes were more frequent than I
have seen cattle in the settlements, browzing on the leaves of the cane,
or cropping the herbage of those extensive plains, fearless because
ignorant of the violence of man. | Sometimes we saw hundreds in a drove,
and the numbers about the salt springs were amazing."
|
|
Sometimes we saw hundreds in a drove,
and the numbers about the salt springs were amazing."
| According to Ramsey, where Nashville now stands, in 1770 there were
"immense numbers of buffalo and other wild game. |
|
According to Ramsey, where Nashville now stands, in 1770 there were
"immense numbers of buffalo and other wild game. | The country was crowded
with them. |
|
The country was crowded
with them. | Their bellowings sounded from the hills and forest." |
|
Their bellowings sounded from the hills and forest." | Daniel
Boone found vast herds of buffalo grazing in the valleys of East
Tennessee, between the spurs of the Cumberland mountains.
|
|
Daniel
Boone found vast herds of buffalo grazing in the valleys of East
Tennessee, between the spurs of the Cumberland mountains.
| Marquette declared that the prairies along the Illinois River were
"covered with buffaloes." |
|
Marquette declared that the prairies along the Illinois River were
"covered with buffaloes." | Father Hennepin, in writing of northern
Illinois, between Chicago and the Illinois River, asserted that "there
must be an innumerable quantity of wild bulls in that country, since the
earth is covered with their horns. |
|
Father Hennepin, in writing of northern
Illinois, between Chicago and the Illinois River, asserted that "there
must be an innumerable quantity of wild bulls in that country, since the
earth is covered with their horns. | * |
|
* | * * |
|
* * | They follow one another, so
that you may see a drove of them for above a league together. |
|
They follow one another, so
that you may see a drove of them for above a league together. | * |
|
* | * *
Their ways are as beaten as our great roads, and no herb grows therein."
Judged by ordinary standards of comparison, the early pioneers of the
last century thought buffalo were abundant in the localities mentioned
above. |
|
* *
Their ways are as beaten as our great roads, and no herb grows therein."
Judged by ordinary standards of comparison, the early pioneers of the
last century thought buffalo were abundant in the localities mentioned
above. | But the herds which lived east of the Mississippi were
comparatively only mere stragglers from the innumerable mass which
covered the great western pasture region from the Mississippi to the
Rocky Mountains, and from the Rio Grande to Great Slave Lake. |
|
But the herds which lived east of the Mississippi were
comparatively only mere stragglers from the innumerable mass which
covered the great western pasture region from the Mississippi to the
Rocky Mountains, and from the Rio Grande to Great Slave Lake. | The town
of Kearney, in south central Nebraska, may fairly be considered the
geographical center of distribution of the species, as it originally
existed, but ever since 1800, and until a few years ago, the center of
population has been in the Black Hills of southwestern Dakota.
|