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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Extermination of the American Bison
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| Title: The Extermination of the American Bison
Author: William T. Hornaday
Release date: February 10, 2006 [eBook #17748]
Most recently updated: December 10, 2020
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Chuck Greif, Tony Browne and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON ***
Produced by Chuck Greif, Tony Browne and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
|
|
Title: The Extermination of the American Bison
Author: William T. Hornaday
Release date: February 10, 2006 [eBook #17748]
Most recently updated: December 10, 2020
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Chuck Greif, Tony Browne and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON ***
Produced by Chuck Greif, Tony Browne and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
| [Illustration: (Inscription) Mr. Theodore Roosevelt. |
|
[Illustration: (Inscription) Mr. Theodore Roosevelt. | Author of "Hunting
Trips of a Ranchman," With the compliments of The Author, W.T. Hornaday.]
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
|
|
Author of "Hunting
Trips of a Ranchman," With the compliments of The Author, W.T. Hornaday.]
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
| UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
|
|
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
| * |
|
* | * |
|
* | * |
|
* | * *
THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON.
|
|
* *
THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON.
| BY
WILLIAM T. HORNADAY,
_Superintendent of the National Zoological Park._
|
|
BY
WILLIAM T. HORNADAY,
_Superintendent of the National Zoological Park._
| * |
|
* | * |
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* | * |
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* | * *
From the Report of the National Museum, 1886-'87, pages 369-548, and
plates I-XXII.
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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.
|
|
* * *
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
| 1889.
|
|
1889.
| [Illustration: GROUP OF AMERICAN BISONS IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
|
|
[Illustration: GROUP OF AMERICAN BISONS IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
| Collected and mounted by W. T. Hornaday.]
|
|
Collected and mounted by W. T. Hornaday.]
| CONTENTS.
|
|
CONTENTS.
| PREFATORY NOTE
|
|
PREFATORY NOTE
| PART I.--THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE BISON
I. Discovery of the species
II. |
|
PART I.--THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE BISON
I. Discovery of the species
II. | Geographical distribution
III. |
|
Geographical distribution
III. | Abundance
IV. |
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Abundance
IV. | Character of the species
1. |
|
Character of the species
1. | The buffalo's rank amongst ruminants
2. |
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The buffalo's rank amongst ruminants
2. | Change of form in captivity
3. |
|
Change of form in captivity
3. | Mounted specimens in museums
4. |
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Mounted specimens in museums
4. | The calf
5. |
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The calf
5. | The yearling
6. |
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The yearling
6. | The spike bull
7. |
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The spike bull
7. | The adult bull
8. |
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The adult bull
8. | The cow in the third year
9. |
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The cow in the third year
9. | The adult cow
10. |
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The adult cow
10. | The "Wood" or "Mountain Buffalo"
11. |
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The "Wood" or "Mountain Buffalo"
11. | The shedding of the winter pelage
V. Habits of the buffalo
VI. |
|
The shedding of the winter pelage
V. Habits of the buffalo
VI. | The food of the buffalo
VII. |
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The food of the buffalo
VII. | Mental capacity and disposition of the buffalo
VIII. |
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Mental capacity and disposition of the buffalo
VIII. | Value to mankind
IX. |
|
Value to mankind
IX. | Economic value of the bison to Western
cattle-growers
1. |
|
Economic value of the bison to Western
cattle-growers
1. | The bison in captivity and domestication
2. |
|
The bison in captivity and domestication
2. | Need of an improvement in range cattle
3. |
|
Need of an improvement in range cattle
3. | Character of the buffalo-domestic hybrid
4. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
Methods of slaughter
1. | The "still hunt"
2. |
|
The "still hunt"
2. | The chase on horseback
3. |
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The chase on horseback
3. | Impounding
4. |
|
Impounding
4. | The surround
5. |
|
The surround
5. | Decoying and driving
6. |
|
Decoying and driving
6. | Hunting on snow-shoes
III. |
|
Hunting on snow-shoes
III. | Progress of the extermination
A. |
|
Progress of the extermination
A. | The period of desultory destruction
B. |
|
The period of desultory destruction
B. | The period of systematic slaughter
1. |
|
The period of systematic slaughter
1. | The Red River half-breeds
2. |
|
The Red River half-breeds
2. | The country of the Sioux
3. |
|
The country of the Sioux
3. | Western railways, and their part
in the extermination of the buffalo
4. |
|
Western railways, and their part
in the extermination of the buffalo
4. | The division of the universal herd
5. |
|
The division of the universal herd
5. | The destruction of the southern herd
6. |
|
The destruction of the southern herd
6. | Statistics of the slaughter
7. |
|
Statistics of the slaughter
7. | The destruction of the northern herd
IV. |
|
The destruction of the northern herd
IV. | Legislation to prevent useless slaughter
V. Completeness of the wild buffalo's extirpation
VI. |
|
Legislation to prevent useless slaughter
V. Completeness of the wild buffalo's extirpation
VI. | Effects of the disappearance of the bison
VII. |
|
Effects of the disappearance of the bison
VII. | Preservation of the species from absolute extinction
PART III.--THE SMITHSONIAN EXPEDITION FOR SPECIMENS
I. |
|
Preservation of the species from absolute extinction
PART III.--THE SMITHSONIAN EXPEDITION FOR SPECIMENS
I. | The exploration for specimens
II. |
|
The exploration for specimens
II. | The hunt
III. |
|
The hunt
III. | The mounted group in the National Museum
INDEX
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
|
|
The mounted group in the National Museum
INDEX
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
| Group of buffaloes in the National Museum
Head of bull buffalo
Slaughter of buffalo on Kansas Pacific Railroad
Buffalo cow, calf, and yearling
Spike bull
Bull buffalo
Bull buffalo, rear view
The development of the buffalo's horns
A dead bull
Buffalo skinners at work
Five minutes' work
Scene on the northern buffalo range
Half-breed calf
Half-breed buffalo (domestic) cow
Young half-breed bull
The still-hunt
|
|
Group of buffaloes in the National Museum
Head of bull buffalo
Slaughter of buffalo on Kansas Pacific Railroad
Buffalo cow, calf, and yearling
Spike bull
Bull buffalo
Bull buffalo, rear view
The development of the buffalo's horns
A dead bull
Buffalo skinners at work
Five minutes' work
Scene on the northern buffalo range
Half-breed calf
Half-breed buffalo (domestic) cow
Young half-breed bull
The still-hunt
| The chase on horseback
Cree Indians impounding buffalo
The surround
Indians on snow-shoes hunting buffaloes
Where the millions have gone
Trophies of the hunt
MAPS.
|
|
The chase on horseback
Cree Indians impounding buffalo
The surround
Indians on snow-shoes hunting buffaloes
Where the millions have gone
Trophies of the hunt
MAPS.
| Sketch map of the hunt for buffalo
Map illustrating the extermination of the American bison
PREFATORY NOTE.
|
|
Sketch map of the hunt for buffalo
Map illustrating the extermination of the American bison
PREFATORY NOTE.
| It is hoped that the following historical account of the discovery,
partial utilization, and almost complete extermination of the great
American bison may serve to cause the public to fully realize the folly
of allowing all our most valuable and interesting American mammals to be
wantonly destroyed in the same manner. |
|
It is hoped that the following historical account of the discovery,
partial utilization, and almost complete extermination of the great
American bison may serve to cause the public to fully realize the folly
of allowing all our most valuable and interesting American mammals to be
wantonly destroyed in the same manner. | The wild buffalo is practically
gone forever, and in a few more years, when the whitened bones of the
last bleaching skeleton shall have been picked up and shipped East for
commercial uses, nothing will remain of him save his old, well-worn
trails along the water-courses, a few museum specimens, and regret for
his fate. |
|
The wild buffalo is practically
gone forever, and in a few more years, when the whitened bones of the
last bleaching skeleton shall have been picked up and shipped East for
commercial uses, nothing will remain of him save his old, well-worn
trails along the water-courses, a few museum specimens, and regret for
his fate. | If his untimely end fails even to point a moral that shall
benefit the surviving species of mammals _which are now being
slaughtered in like manner_, it will be sad indeed.
|
|
If his untimely end fails even to point a moral that shall
benefit the surviving species of mammals _which are now being
slaughtered in like manner_, it will be sad indeed.
| Although _Bison americanus_ is a true bison, according to scientific
classification, and not a buffalo, the fact that more than sixty
millions of people in this country unite in calling him a "buffalo," and
know him by no other name, renders it quite unnecessary for me to
apologize for following, in part, a harmless custom which has now become
so universal that all the naturalists in the world could not change it
if they would.
|
|
Although _Bison americanus_ is a true bison, according to scientific
classification, and not a buffalo, the fact that more than sixty
millions of people in this country unite in calling him a "buffalo," and
know him by no other name, renders it quite unnecessary for me to
apologize for following, in part, a harmless custom which has now become
so universal that all the naturalists in the world could not change it
if they would.
| W. T. H.
THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON,
|
|
W. T. H.
THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON,
| By WILLIAM T. HORNADAY,
_ |
|
By WILLIAM T. HORNADAY,
_ | Superintendent of the National Zoological Park. |
|
Superintendent of the National Zoological Park. | _
|
|
_
| PART I.--LIFE |
|
PART I.--LIFE | HISTORY OF THE BISON.
I. DISCOVERY OF THE SPECIES.
|
|
HISTORY OF THE BISON.
I. DISCOVERY OF THE SPECIES.
| The discovery of the American bison, as first made by Europeans,
occurred in the menagerie of a heathen king.
|
|
The discovery of the American bison, as first made by Europeans,
occurred in the menagerie of a heathen king.
| In the year 1521, when Cortez reached Anahuac, the American bison was
seen for the first time by civilized Europeans, if we may be permitted
to thus characterize the horde of blood thirsty plunder seekers who
fought their way to the Aztec capital. |
|
In the year 1521, when Cortez reached Anahuac, the American bison was
seen for the first time by civilized Europeans, if we may be permitted
to thus characterize the horde of blood thirsty plunder seekers who
fought their way to the Aztec capital. | With a degree of enterprise that
marked him as an enlightened monarch, Montezuma maintained, for the
instruction of his people, a well-appointed menagerie, of which the
historian De Solis wrote as follows (1724):
"In the second Square of the same House were the Wild Beasts, which were
either presents to Montezuma, or taken by his Hunters, in strong Cages
of Timber, rang'd in good Order, and under Cover: Lions, Tygers, Bears,
and all others of the savage Kind which New-Spain produced; among which
the greatest Rarity was the Mexican Bull; a wonderful composition of
divers Animals. |
|
With a degree of enterprise that
marked him as an enlightened monarch, Montezuma maintained, for the
instruction of his people, a well-appointed menagerie, of which the
historian De Solis wrote as follows (1724):
"In the second Square of the same House were the Wild Beasts, which were
either presents to Montezuma, or taken by his Hunters, in strong Cages
of Timber, rang'd in good Order, and under Cover: Lions, Tygers, Bears,
and all others of the savage Kind which New-Spain produced; among which
the greatest Rarity was the Mexican Bull; a wonderful composition of
divers Animals. | It has crooked Shoulders, with a Bunch on its Back like
a Camel; its Flanks dry, its Tail large, and its Neck cover'd with Hair
like a Lion. |
|
It has crooked Shoulders, with a Bunch on its Back like
a Camel; its Flanks dry, its Tail large, and its Neck cover'd with Hair
like a Lion. | It is cloven footed, its Head armed like that of a Bull,
which it resembles in Fierceness, with no less strength and Agility. |
|
It is cloven footed, its Head armed like that of a Bull,
which it resembles in Fierceness, with no less strength and Agility. | "
Thus was the first seen buffalo described. |
|
"
Thus was the first seen buffalo described. | The nearest locality from
whence it could have come was the State of Coahuila, in northern Mexico,
between 400 and 500 miles away, and at that time vehicles were unknown
to the Aztecs. |
|
The nearest locality from
whence it could have come was the State of Coahuila, in northern Mexico,
between 400 and 500 miles away, and at that time vehicles were unknown
to the Aztecs. | But for the destruction of the whole mass of the written
literature of the Aztecs by the priests of the Spanish Conquest, we
might now be reveling in historical accounts of the bison which would
make the oldest of our present records seem of comparatively recent
date.
|
|
But for the destruction of the whole mass of the written
literature of the Aztecs by the priests of the Spanish Conquest, we
might now be reveling in historical accounts of the bison which would
make the oldest of our present records seem of comparatively recent
date.
| Nine years after the event referred to above, or in 1530, another
Spanish explorer, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza, afterwards called Cabeza de
Vaca--or, in other words "Cattle Cabeza," the prototype of our own
distinguished "Buffalo Bill"--was wrecked on the Gulf coast, west of
the delta of the Mississippi, from whence he wandered westward through
what is now the State of Texas. |
|
Nine years after the event referred to above, or in 1530, another
Spanish explorer, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza, afterwards called Cabeza de
Vaca--or, in other words "Cattle Cabeza," the prototype of our own
distinguished "Buffalo Bill"--was wrecked on the Gulf coast, west of
the delta of the Mississippi, from whence he wandered westward through
what is now the State of Texas. | In southeastern Texas he discovered the
American bison on his native heath. |
|
In southeastern Texas he discovered the
American bison on his native heath. | So far as can be ascertained, this
was the earliest discovery of the bison in a wild state, and the
description of the species as recorded by the explorer is of historical
interest. |
|
So far as can be ascertained, this
was the earliest discovery of the bison in a wild state, and the
description of the species as recorded by the explorer is of historical
interest. | It is brief and superficial. |
|
It is brief and superficial. | The unfortunate explorer took
very little interest in animated nature, except as it contributed to the
sum of his daily food, which was then the all-important subject of his
thoughts. |
|
The unfortunate explorer took
very little interest in animated nature, except as it contributed to the
sum of his daily food, which was then the all-important subject of his
thoughts. | He almost starved. |
|
He almost starved. | This is all he has to say:[1]
|
|
This is all he has to say:[1]
| [Note 1: Davis' Spanish Conquest of New Mexico. 1869. |
|
[Note 1: Davis' Spanish Conquest of New Mexico. 1869. | P. 67.]
"Cattle come as far as this. |
|
P. 67.]
"Cattle come as far as this. | I have seen them three times, and eaten of
their meat. |
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