behind the raised door, in order to drop it as soon as the 

 animal enters. The bottom of the crate should be covered 

 with hay, and hay should be strewn along the corral for 

 a few feet of the distance leading into the crate. For 

 loading a large number of Bison, it is much the best that 

 the crates should rest upon a raised platform, similar to 

 that in use at the Zoological Park. The other method is 

 in some respects more difficult. It consists in throwing 

 a lariat around the horns of the Bison, or around its 

 neck, and dragging the animal in by main strength. This 

 method often is useful as a last resort, and once an animal 

 is roped, it is quickly drawn to its place. 



When the bison corrals of the Zoological Park were 

 rebuilt two years ago, a permanent chute was erected for 

 the loading of Bison that might require to be sent awav. 



The following animals were selected to constitute the 

 nucleus of the Wichita National Bison herd: — 



I large bull, 5V2 years old, 



1 bull, T,y2 years old, 



2 bulls, 25^ years old, 

 I spike bull, 



J bull calf, 6 months old, 

 6 adult cows, all breeders, 

 I cow, 2jX years old, 

 I cow, i^ years old, 

 T female calf, 6 months old. 

 Total, 15 head. 



The Bison thus selected represent four distinct strains 

 of blood. The large breeding bull is not related to 

 any of the other members of the herd. It is the belief of 

 the writer, based on recent studies of the development of 

 wild animals derived from a small number of progen- 

 itors, but ranging free on large areas of territory, that on 

 any range for animals as large as that of the Wichita Bison 

 Range, the dangers of evil results from inbreeding are too 

 small to be considered seriously, provided the original 

 stock is sound and healthy. Of course it is well known 

 that diseased parents transmit their diseases to their off- 

 spring, and the greatest evils of inbreeding arise from 

 this source. 



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