vi INTRODUCTION. 
The material for the description of Bison americanus, and for its comparison 
with the aurochs (Bison bonasus), has, on the other hand, been nearly all that 
could be desired, far exceeding that ever before brought together. To com- 
plete, in a measure, the history of this species, several pages are devoted to 
an account of its habits, based mainly on personal observation; while Part 
Il1—embracing by far the greater part of the paper — has been devoted 
entirely to the subject of its geographical distribution, including a history of 
its extirpation from the greater part of its former vast habitat. As bearing 
upon this general subject, a chapter has been devoted to an account of its 
products, another to the means and methods used for its destruction, not only 
by the different Indian tribes, but also by white men, and a third to the few 
attempts that have been made for its domestication. The preparation of this 
part of the paper has been very time-taking, the necessary research having 
absorbed the leisure time of many months. Although extended to so great 
a length, it cannot be considered as an exhaustive essay on the subject, but 
it is believed that the conclusions reached will not be much affected by 
future investigations, though many important details respecting particular 
districts may yet be added. 
The problem of the best manner of presenting the historical part of the 
subject has offered many difficulties. I have, however, deemed it best to 
give the data in full, at the risk of prolixity, rather than to briefly sum- | 
marize the facts, without giving the basis for the conclusions reached. I 
have hence often made copious quotations, verbatim, instead of giving simple 
references to authorities, thereby presenting in full whatever bears upon 
the special points at issue. As a geographical arrangement of the matter 
seemed clearest and most logical I have adopted that method of presenta- 
tion, dividing the area under discussion into several minor geographical 
regions. After stating in a somewhat general way the boundaries of the 
habitat of the American bison at the time when the different regions of 
the continent were first explored by Europeans (as indicated by the facts 
presented in the pages which follow), every portion of this boundary is after- 
wards discussed in detail, since the original limits of its range in different 
directions has been more or less the subject of discrepant opinions. Its 
original limit to the eastward has especially been a matter of dispute, or at 
least of conflicting statements, and to a less degree also its original limita- 
tion to the southward and westward. Taking, for instance, that portion of 
the United States east of the Mississippi River, — the first region treated in 
