In  Texas,  the  buffalo  yet  extends  its  migrations  to  the  head
waters  of  the  Brazos  and  Colorado,  but  it  is  not  a  Mexican  ani
mal.  Following  the  Rocky  Mountains  from  the  great  bend  of
the  Rio  Grande  northward,  we  find  no  buffalo  west  of  them
until  we  reach  the  higher  latitude  near  the  sources  of  the  Sas
katchewan.  There  they  have  crossed  the  mountains,  and  are
now  to  be  met  with  in  some  of  thrc  plains  that  lie  on  the  other
side.  This,  however,  is  a  late  migration,  occasioned  by  hunter-
pressure  upon  the  eastern  slope.  The  same  has  been  observed
at  different  periods,  at  other  points  in  the  Rocky  Mountain
chain,  where  the  buffalo  had  made  a  temporary  lodgment  on  the
Pacific  side  of  the  mountain,  but  where  they  are  now  entirely
extinct.  It  is  known,  from  the  traditional  history  of  the  tribes
on  the  west  side,  that  the  buffalo  was  only  a  newcomer  among

them,  and  was  not  indigenous  to  that  division  of  the  Continent.
•vv  •
Following  the  buffaloes  north,  we  find  their  range  coterminous

with  the  prairies.  The  latter  end  in  an  angle  between  the  Peace
River  and  the  great  Slave  Lake,  and  beyond  this  the  buffalo
does  not  run.  There  is  a  point,  however,  across  an  arm  of  the
Slave  Lake  where  buffalo  are  found.  It  is  called  Slave  Point


THE   BISON.  309

and  although  contiguous  to  the  primitive  rocks  of  the  "  Barren
Grounds"  it  is  of  a  similar  geology  (stratified  limestone)  with
the  buffalo  prairies  to  the  west.  This,  to  the  geologist,  is  an
interesting  fact.
