SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
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THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON.
BY
WILLIAM T. HORNADAY,
Superintendent of the National Zoological Park.
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From the Report of the National Museum, 1886-'87, pages 369-548, and plates I-XXII.
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WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1889.
CONTENTS.
PREFATORY NOTE
PART I.--THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE BISON
I. Discovery of the species II. Geographical distribution III. Abundance IV. Character of the species 1. The buffalo's rank amongst ruminants 2. Change of form in captivity 3. Mounted specimens in museums 4. The calf 5. The yearling 6. The spike bull 7. The adult bull 8. The cow in the third year 9. The adult cow 10. The "Wood" or "Mountain Buffalo" 11. The shedding of the winter pelage V. Habits of the buffalo VI. The food of the buffalo VII. Mental capacity and disposition of the buffalo VIII. Value to mankind IX. Economic value of the bison to Western cattle-growers 1. The bison in captivity and domestication 2. Need of an improvement in range cattle 3. Character of the buffalo-domestic hybrid 4. The bison as a beast of burden 5. List of bison herds and individuals in captivity
PART II.--THE EXTERMINATION
I. Causes of the extermination II. Methods of slaughter 1. The "still hunt" 2. The chase on horseback 3. Impounding 4. The surround 5. Decoying and driving 6. Hunting on snow-shoes III. Progress of the extermination A. The period of desultory destruction B. The period of systematic slaughter 1. The Red River half-breeds 2. The country of the Sioux 3. Western railways, and their part in the extermination of the buffalo 4. The division of the universal herd 5. The destruction of the southern herd 6. Statistics of the slaughter 7. The destruction of the northern herd IV. Legislation to prevent useless slaughter V. Completeness of the wild buffalo's extirpation VI. Effects of the disappearance of the bison VII. Preservation of the species from absolute extinction