[Note 30: In testimony whereof the following extract from a letter
written by General Stewart Van Vliet, on March 10, 1897, to Professor
Baird, is of interest:

"MY DEAR PROFESSOR: On the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant I
saw General Sheridan, and yesterday we called on your taxidermist and
examined the buffalo bull he is setting up for the Museum. I don't think
I have ever seen a more splendid specimen in my life. General Sheridan
and I have seen millions of buffalo on the plains in former times. I
have killed hundreds, but I never killed a larger animal than the one in
the possession of your taxidermist."]

[Note 31: Quadrupeds of North America, vol. II, p. 44.]

In mounting the skin of this animal, we endeavored by every means in our
power, foremost of which were three different sets of measurements,
taken from the dead animal, one set to check another, to reproduce him
when mounted in exactly the same form he possessed in life--muscular,
but not fat.

The color of the body and hindquarters of a buffalo is very peculiar,
and almost baffles intelligent description. Audubon calls it "between a
dark umber and liver-shining brown." I once saw a competent artist
experiment with his oil-colors for a quarter of an hour before he
finally struck the combination which exactly matched the side of our
large bull. To my eyes, the color is a pale gray-brown or smoky gray.
The range of individual variation is considerable, some being uniformly
darker than the average type, and others lighter. While the under parts
of most adults are dark brown or blackish brown, others are actually
black. The hair on the body and hinder parts is fine, wavy on the