PREFACE. 



HAVING been a wanderer for nearly seven years in the Far 

 West, a part of the time being ere railways were known 

 there, and when very few whites, except the troops, were 

 found in regions which now boast of thousands, I devoted 

 particular attention to studying the fauna of the country, 

 especially the game, whether it was fur, fin, or feather. 



My object in preparing this work has been to give the 

 general characteristics, the haunts, habits, and the best method 

 of hunting the largest class of game; and as my facts are 

 derived from personal experience, and from that of some of 

 the most famous scouts and hunters I met in the West, I hope 

 they may be found generally accurate. 



The contests between men and the fiercer creatures which 

 are related were, when I do not speak personally, heard 

 around the camp fire or in the Indian's wigwam, and one or 

 two were culled from Western newspapers. 



Having no desire to pose as a Nimrod, I may say that 

 some of my hunting was as much for the purpose of studying 

 ihejferfe nature, as for killing them, and that their lite was 

 frequently more pleasing to me than their death. 



I have combined incidents in some chapters, notably, the 

 buffalo and the prairie wolf, my aim being to give some- 

 what similar experiences which might, perhaps, be interesting 

 when united, but tedious and unimportant if related separately. 



THE AUTHOR. 



