“Thirteen years ago Colonel Stanton purchased a buffalo bull calf for $8 and two heifers for $25.  The descendants of these three buffaloes now found at Bismarck Grove, where all were born, number in all ten.  There were seventeen, but the rest have died, with the exception of one, which was given away.  They are kept in an inclosure containing about 30 acres immediately adjoining the park, and there may be seen at any time.  The sight is one well worth a trip and the slight expense that may attach to it, especially to one who has never seen the American bison in his native state.

“The present herd includes two fine bull calves dropped last spring, two heifers, five cows, and a bull six years old and as handsome as a picture.  The latter has been named Cleveland, after the colonel’s favorite Presidential candidate.  The entire herd is in as fine condition as any beef cattle, though they were never fed anything but hay and are never given any shelter.  In fact they don’t take kindly to shelter, and whether a blizzard is blowing, with the mercury 20 degrees below zero, or the sun pouring down his scorching rays, with the thermometer 110 degrees above, they set their heads resolutely toward storm or sun and take their medicine as if they liked it.  Hon. W. F. Cody, “Buffalo Bill,” tried to buy the whole herd two years ago to take to Europe with his Wild West Show, but they were not for sale at his own figures, and, indeed, there is no anxiety to dispose of them at any figures.  The railroad company has been glad to furnish them pasturage for the sake of adding to the attractions of the park, in which there are also forty-three head of deer, including two as fine bucks as ever trotted over the national deer trail toward the salt-licks in northern Utah.

“While the bison at Bismark Grove are splendid specimens of their class, “Cleveland” is decidedly the pride of the herd, and as grand a creature as ever trod the soil of Kansas on four legs.  He is just six years old and is a perfect specimen of the kings of the plains.  There is royal blood in his veins, and his coat is finer than the imperial purple.  It is not possible to get at him to measure his stature and weight.  He must weigh fully 3,000 pounds, and it is doubtful if there is to-day living on the face of the earth a handsomer buffalo bull than he.  “Cleveland’s” disposition is not so ugly as old Barney’s was, but at certain seasons he is very wild, and there is no one venturesome enough to go into the inclosure.  It is then not altogether safe to even look over the high and heavy board fence at him, for he is likely to make a run for the visitor, as the numerous holes in the fence where he has knocked off the boards will testify.”

Herd of Mr. Frederick Dupree, Cheyenne Indian Agency, near Fort Bennett, Dakota.—­This herd contains at present nine pure-blood buffaloes, five of which are cows and seven mixed bloods.  Of the former, there are two adult bulls and four adult cows.  Of the mixed blood animals, six are half-breeds and one a quarter-breed buffalo.