Northern Cheyenne Ledger-Kansas State Historical Society

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ANIMALS, BUFFALO: Female Buffalo and Calf; ANIMALS, BUFFALO: One Large Buffalo

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32 ANIMALS, BUFFALO. A large buffalo cow and calf move from right to left across the page. The cow arches over the calf, which is under her and within the range of her legs. Fringed beard (but not forelegs) is detailed in pencil, as well as ears, horns, split hooves, and downward turning tail. This buffalo cow has a distinct eye left by not shading the circular socket. The juvenile has no eyes, but its hooves, horns, and tail are detailed. It has splayed feet, as though in motion. This is one of eight nearly identical drawings in this ledger with a buffalo female and calf: Plates 11-18. For further discussion, see plate 11. 33 ANIMALS, BUFFALO. An adult female bison fills the page, facing to the left. This is one of the few drawings with a female and no offspring. Bull bison appear elsewhere in the related 1879 Northern Cheyenne ledgers from Dodge City, with detailed genitalia, so most likely this is a female, even though a calf is not with her. She is similar in style and pencil medium to the female bison in plates 11-18. The beard, horns, hooves, and tail are detailed. The small eye is created by outlining a circle but omitting fill. See plate 11 for further discussion. Media: Lead pencil


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Drawn in 1879 by one or more Northern Cheyenne prisoners in the Dodge City jail held for trial after breaking ...

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Document Info
Plate No: 18
Page No: 32-33
Media: Lead pencil
Dimensions: 3.25 x 5 in (8.5 x 12.75 cm)
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Kansas Historical Society

Kansas Memory: www.kansasmemory.org

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