lony known as the
"Red River Settlements."

One of the most singular facts in relation to the buffalo is their
enormous numbers. Nothing but the vast extent of their pasturage could
have sustained such droves as have from time to time been seen.
Thousands frequently feed together, and the plain for miles is often
covered with a continuous drove. Sometimes they are seen strung out
into a long column, passing from place to place, and roads exist made by
them that resemble great highways. Sometimes these roads, worn by the
rains, form great hollows that traverse the level plain, and they often
guide the thirsty traveller in the direction of water.

Another curious fact about the buffalo is their habit of wallowing. The
cause of this is not well-ascertained. It may be that they are prompted
to it, as swine are, partly to cool their blood by bringing their bodies
in contact with the colder earth, and partly to scratch themselves as
other cattle do, and free their skins from the annoying insects and
parasites that prey upon them. It must be remembered that in their
pasturage no trees or "rubbing posts" are to be found, and in the
absence of these they are compelled to resort to wallowing. They fling
themselves upon their sides, and using their hunch and shoulder as a
pivot, spin round and round for hours at a time. In this rotatory
motion they aid themselves by using the legs freely. The earth becomes
hollowed out and worn into a circular basin, often of considerable
depth, and this is known as a "buffalo wallow." Such curious circular
concavities are seen throughout the prairies where these animals range;
sometimes grown over with grass, sometimes freshly hollowed out, and not
unfrequently containing water, with which the traveller assuages his
thirst, and so, too, the buffalo themselves. This has led to the
fanciful idea of the early explorers that there existed on the American
Continent an animal who _dug its own wells_!

The buffaloes make extensive migrations, going in large "gangs." These
are not periodical, and are only partially influenced by climate. They
are not regular either in their direction. Sometimes the gangs will be
seen straying southward, at other times to the north, east, or west.

The search of food or water seems partially to regulate these movements,
as with the passenger-pigeon, and some other migratory creatures.

At such times the buffaloes move forward in an impetuous march which