Page:The Extermination of the American Bison.djvu/124

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REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887.

latter and the fur of a buffalo, I will have a robe that will bring more money than we get for the arerage range steer."

In November, 1885, Mr. Jones purchased Mr. Bedson's entire herd. and in the following mouth proceeded to ship a portion of it to Kausas City. Thirty-three head were separated from the remainder of the herd ou the prairie near Stony Mountain, 12 miles from Winnipeg, and driven to the railroad. Sereral old bulls broke away en route and ran back to the herd, and when the remainder were finally corraled in the pens at the stock-yards they began to fight among themselves, and some fierce encounters were waged between the old bulls. The younger cattle were raised on the horns of their seniors, thrown in the air, and otherwise gored." While on the way to St. Paul three of the half-breed buffaloes were killed by their companions. Ou reaching Kansas City and uuloading the two cars, 13 head broke away from the large force of men that attempted to manage them, stampeded through the city, and finally took refuge iu the low-lands along the river. In due time, howerer, all were recaptured.

Since the acquisition of this northern herd and the subsequent press comment that it has evoked, Mr. Jones has been almost overwhelmed with letters of inquiry in regard to the whole subject of buffalo breed. ing, and has found it necessary to print and distribute a circular giving answers to the many inquiries that have been made.

Herd of Jr. Charles Allard, Flathead Indian Reservation, Jontana. — This herd was visited in the autumn of 1858 by Mr. G. O. Shields, of Chicago, who reports that it cousists of thirty-five head of pure-blood buffaloes, of which seren are calves of 1883, sis are yearlings, and six are two-year olds. Of the adult animals, four cows and two bulls are each fourteen years old, "and the beards of the bulls almost sweep the ground as they walk."

Herd of Hon. W.F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"). — The celebrated "Wild West Show" has, erer since its organization, numbered amongst its leading attractions a herd of live buffaloes of all ages. At present this herd contains eighteen head, of which fourteen were originally purchased of Mr. H. T. Groome, of Wichita, Kausas, and have made a journey to London and back. As a proof of the indomitable persistence of the bison in breeding under most unfarorable circumstances, the fact that four of the members of this herd are calves which were boru iu 1888 in London, at the American Esposition, is of considerable interest.

This herd is now (December, 1838) being wintered on General Beale's farm, near the city of Washington. In 1886–87, while the Wild West Show was at Madison Square Garden, New York City, its entire herd of twenty buffaloes was carried off by pleuro-pneumonia. It is to be greatly feared that sooner or later in the course of its travels the present herd will also disappear, either through disease or accident.

Herd of Mr. Charles Goodnight, Clarendon, Texas. — Mr. Goodnight writes that he has been breeding buffaloes in a small way for the past