This edition features
illustrations
a linked Table of Contents, Footnotes, and Index
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
The buffalo's rank amongst ruminants
Change of form in captivity
Mounted specimens in museums
The calf
The yearling
The spike bull
The adult bull
The cow in the third year
The adult cow
The "Wood" or "Mountain Buffalo"
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
The bison in captivity and domestication
Need of an improvement in range cattle
Character of the buffalo-domestic hybrid
The bison as a beast of burden
List of bison herds and individuals in captivity
Part II. The extermination
I. Causes of the extermination
II. Methods of slaughter
The "still hunt"
The chase on horseback
Impounding
The surround
Decoying and driving
Hunting on snow-shoes
III. Progress of the extermination
A. The period of desultory destruction
B. The period of systematic slaughter
The Red River half-breeds
The country of the Sioux
Western railways, and their part in the extermination of the buffalo
The division of the universal herd
The destruction of the southern herd
Statistics of the slaughter
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
Part III. The Smithsonian expedition for specimens
I. The exploration for specimens
II. The hunt
III. The mounted group in the National Museum