THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 459 



lassoed, and tied with his own hands. For the last five years Mr. Jones 

 has made an annual trip, in June, to the uninhabited "panhandle" of 

 Texas, to capture calves out of the small herd of from one hundred to 

 two hundred head which represented the last remnant of the great 

 southern herd. Each of these expeditions involved a very considerable 

 outlay in money, an elaborate "outfit" of men, horses, vehicles, camp 

 equipage, and lastly, but most important of all, a herd of a dozen fresh 

 milch cows to nourish the captured calves and keep them from dying 

 of starvation and thirst. The region visited was fearfully barren, al- 

 most without water, and to penetrate it was always attended by great 

 hardship. The buffaloes were difficult to find, but the ground was good 

 for running, being chiefly level plains, and the superior speed of the 

 running horses always enabled the hunters to overtake a herd when- 

 ever one was sighted, and to " cut out" and lasso two, three, or four of 

 its calves. Tbe degree of skill and daring displayed in these several 

 expeditious are worthy of the highest admiration, and completely sur- 

 pass anything I have ever seen or read of being accomplished in con- 

 nection with hunting, or the capture of live game. The latest feat of 

 Mr. Jones and his party comes the nearest to being incredible. During 

 the month of May, 1888, they not only captured seven calves, but also 

 eleven adult cows, of which some were lassoed in full career on the prai- 

 rie, thrown, tied, and hobbled ! The majority, however, were actually 

 " rounded up," herded, and held in control until a bunch of tame buf- 

 faloes was driven down to meet them, so that it would thus be possible 

 to drive all together to a rancb. This brilliant feat can only be ap- 

 preciated as it deserves by those who have lately hunted buffalo, and 

 learned by dear experience the extent of their wariness, and the diffi- 

 culties, to say nothing of the dangers, inseparably connected with their 

 pursuit. 



The result of each of Mr. Jones's five expeditions is as follows : In 

 1884 no calves found; 1885, 11 calves captured, 5 died, 6 survived ; 1886, 

 14 calves captured, 7 died, 7 survived ; 1887, 36 calves captured, 6 died, 

 30 survived ; 1888, 7 calves captured, all survived ; 1888, 11 old cows 

 captured, all survived. Total, 79 captures, 18 losses, 57 survivors. 



The census of the herd is exactly as follows : Adult cows, 11; three- 

 year olds, 7, of which 2 are males and 5 females; two-year olds, 4, of 

 which all are males ; yearling, 28, of which 15 are males and 13 females ; 

 calves, 7, of which 3 are ?nales and 4 females. Total herd, 57 ; 24 males 

 and 33 females. To this,- Mr. Jones's original herd, must now be added 

 the entire herd formerly owned by Mr. Bedson. 



Eespecting his breeding operations Mr. Jones writes : " My oldest 

 [bull] buffaloes are now three years old, and I am breeding one hundred 

 domestic cows to them this year. Am breeding the Galloway cows quite 

 extensively; also some Shorthoims, Herefords, and Texas cows. I expect 

 best results from the Galloways. If I can get the black luster of the 



