FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



doves were also imported to the extent 

 of 20,000. More than 100 capercailzies, 

 a European game bird, were imported 

 for liberation on Grand Island, Michi- 

 gan. The Bureau of Biological Survey 

 also gives much attention to interstate 

 commerce in game, assisting state courts 

 and the Department of Justice in prose- 

 cuting cases of illegal shipment of game. 

 Reservations are being established for 

 the protection of game birds and mam- 

 mals, and experiments are in progress 

 in methods of feeding game. 



We are always interested in the utili- 

 zation of animals other than our com- 

 mon farm stock, and it is hoped that the 

 following brief accounts of these ani- 

 mals contain answers to most of the 

 questions which the farmer would nat- 

 urally ask concerning them. Most of us 

 take a keen enjoyment in seeing game 

 birds and mammals about the place, and 

 in having the streams on the farm well 

 stocked with trout or other suitable fish. 

 The farmer needs recreation as well as 

 other busy men and by giving a little 

 heed to the matter he may have all the 

 joys and luxuries of nature on his ow 

 place. 



AMERICAN BISON AND CATALO 



The Buffalo or American Bison once 

 extended from Pennsylvania to the 

 Rocky mountains and was by all odds 

 the most conspicuous animal on our con- 

 tinent. This monarch of the plains i3 

 now extinct except for a few thousand 

 animals kept in zoological gardens, 

 parks, and on private estates. Accord- 

 ing to estimates prepared by Col. C. J. 

 Jones, there were 15,000,000 in 1865, 

 1,000,000 in 1875, 20,000 in 1885, and 

 150 in 1889. The cause of the extermi- 

 nation of the buffalo is not far to seek. 

 In 1871, 4,500,000 were killed, all but 

 1,000,000 being killed for the hide alone. 

 The history of the buffalo reads like a 

 romance and a great mass of literature 

 has grown up around this animal. In 

 the pioneer days he was seen in herds of 

 thousands and in some cases millions, 

 one continuous herd of 4,000,000 being 

 reported by Mr. R. I. Dodge. The buf- 

 falo made annual migrations from the 

 south to the north and back again in 

 search of good grazing. 



The buffalo in domestication loses 

 much of its keen sense of smell, but its 

 eyesight appears to improve. In close 

 confinement it becomes almost sterile 

 but breeds readily when allowed suitable 



range. The buffalo has been success- 

 fully trained and driven in harness. It 

 is valuable for its head and skin for or- 

 namental purposes, robes, overcoats, etc. 

 Not many years ago scarcely a farmer 

 was so poor that he could not afford a 

 buffalo robe. Now the possession of a 

 buffalo robe is a great luxury. Buffaloes 

 are not alone valuable for their skin; 

 the tallow is yellow and the meat tender 

 and of good flavor. The opportunity is 

 seldom had at present to taste the meat 

 of the buffalo except when one is killed 

 for food in private herds. 



The Catalo as described by Jones is 

 produced by crossing the buffalo bull on 

 the domestic cow. A surer and better 

 method consists in crossing the domes- 

 tic bull on the buffalo cow. The hybrid 

 or catalo calf has a slight hump on the 

 shoulders which may occasionally give 



Fig. 433 — FALLOW DEER 



trouble in parturition for the domestic 

 cow. The catalo is perfectly fertile and 

 breeds readily with either parent. Cat- 

 alo bulls are much harder to raise than 

 catalo cows. The half breeds are usually 

 larger than either parent, the catalo cow 

 often weighing 1,200 to 1,500 pounds. 

 One five-year old catalo steer dressed 

 1,280 pounds. "The quarter and three- 

 quarter buffaloes are not so large as the 

 half-blood; they are about the same size 

 as ordinary good cattle. The seven 

 eighths and fifteen-sixteenths buffaloes 

 are of the size of the buffalo, and resem- 

 ble them in shape and color. The fur of 

 the three-quarter and seven-eighths bxif- 

 faloes makes the finest robes." The 



