458 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



to the yoke. It was said that they were strong, rapid walkers, and 

 capable of performing as much work as the best domestic oxen, but 

 they were at times so uncontrollably headstrong and obstinate as to 

 greatly detract from their usefulness. The particular event of their 

 career on which their historian dwelt with special interest occurred 

 when their owner was hauling a load of potatoes to town with them. 

 In the course of the long drive the buffaloes grew very thirsty, and 

 upon coming within sight of the water in the river they started for it 

 in a straight course. The shouts and blows of the driver only served to 

 hasten their speed, and presently, when they reached the edge of the high 

 bank, they plunged down it without the slightest hesitation, wagon, 

 potatoes, and all, to the loss of everything except themselves and the 

 drink they went after ! 



Mr. Eobert Wickliffe states that trained buffaloes make satisfactory 

 oxen. " I have broken them to the yoke, and found them capable of 

 making excellent oxen ; and for drawing wagons, carts, or other heavily 

 laden vehicles on long journeys they would, I think, be greatly prefer- 

 able to the common ox." 



It seems probable that, in the absence of horses, the buffalo would 

 make a much more speedy and enduring draught animal than the domes- 

 tic ox, although it is to be doubted whether he would be as strong. His 

 weaker pelvis and hind quarters would surely count against him under 

 certain circumstances, but for some purposes his superior speed and en- 

 durance would more than counterbalance that defect. 



BISON HERDS AND INDIVIDUALS IN CAPTIVITY AND DOMESTICATION, 



JANUARY 1, 1889. 



Herd of Mr. S. L. Bedson, Stony Mountain, Manitoba.— lu 1877 Mr. 

 Bedsou purchased 5 buffalo calves, 1 bull, and 4 heifers, for which he 

 paid $1,000. In 1888 his herd consisted of 23 full-blood bulls, 35 cows, 

 3 half-breed cows, 5 half-breed bulls, and 17 calves, mixed and pure;* 

 making a total of 83 head. These were all produced from the original 

 5, no purchases having been made, nor any additions made in any other 

 way. Besides the 83 head constituting the herd when it was sold, 5 

 were killed and 9 given away, which would otherwise make a total of 

 97 head produced since 1877. In November, 1888, this entire herd was 

 purchased, for $50,000, by Mr. O. J. Jones, and added to the already 

 large herd owned by that gentleman in Kansas. 



Herd of Mr. G. J. Jones, Garden City, Kans. — Mr. Jones's original 

 herd of 57 buffaloes constitute a living testimonial to his individual en- 

 terprise, aud to his courage, endurance, and skill in the chase. The 

 majority of the individuals composing the herd he himself ran down, 



* In summing up the total number of buffaloes and mixed-breeds now alive in cap- 

 tivity, I have been obliged to strike"an average on this lot of calves "mixed aud 

 pure," and have counted twelve as being of pure breed and five mixed, which I have 

 reason to believe is very near the truth. 



