yiii ENTEODTJCTIOir. 



daries given cannot, of course, be more than approximate, but are believed 

 to be as nearly correct as the data extant will permit. 



No indigenous animal has perhaps figured so prominently in the history 

 of Kentucky as the buffalo. It not only formed for a time the chief sub- 

 sistence of some of the early pioneers of this State, but its fossil remains 

 form large deposits at several localities about its numerous Salt Licks; 

 -while it is only in this State that any efforts for its domestication worthy 

 of the name have as yet been made. Both of the extinct species were also 

 first described from remains found in Kentucky; and it is to the great valley 

 of the Ohio that we must mainly still look for further materials to furnish us 

 with a clew to their fuller histories and distinctive characters. 



In Part II will be found not only references to narratives of exploration 

 and the records of the early settlement of the country, but also much matter 

 hitherto unpublished. While due credit is given in each ease lor the infor- 

 mation received from my many correspondents, — the name of the con- 

 tributor being always given as the authority for the facts communicated. — 

 it gives me pleasure to mention here a few of those to whom I am especially 

 indebted for valuable contributions. Among these are Dr. F. V. Hayden. 

 Geologist-in-charge of the United States Geographical and Geological Survey 

 of the Territories ; Dr. Elliott Cones, U. S. A., Naturalist of the United States 

 and British Boundary Commission; Prof. S. F. Baird, Assistant Secretary of 

 tli,' Smithsonian Institution ; Professor George M. Dawson of McGill College. 

 Montreal ; J. S. Taylor, Esq., late U. S. Consul at Winnipeg. 15. N. A. : lion. 

 Win. X. Bycrs, Editor of the Rocky Mountain News; Mr. W. II. Dull. Assist- 

 ant United States Coast Survey ; Dr. W. S. Tremaine, U. S. A., of Fort Dodge. 

 Kansas; Mr. J. Boll of Dallas. Texas; Dr. W. J. Boffinan, late Assistant 

 Surgeon U. S. A.; Prof. B. F. Mudge of Kansas; Professor < >. C. Marsh of 

 New Haven. Conn.; Dr. .1. <!. Cooper of California: Mr. C. EL Aiken of 

 Colorado Springs, Col. ; Prof. .1. R Loomis of Lewisburg, Pa : Mr. C. W. 

 Pritchett of Glasgow, Mo.; Mr. George Graham of Cincinnati. Ohio; ET. 

 Bowen, Esq., late General Superintendent of the Kansas Pacific Railway; 

 C. F. Morse, Esq., Superintendent of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe 

 Railroad; E. P. Vining, Esq., General Freight Agent of the Union Pacific 

 Railroad ; and to various officers of the United States Army. 



I am also especially indebted for the use of material to the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, without access t<> whose collections the 

 preparation of this monograph would have been impossible. Also to the 



