THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 545 



dition, and a series of the best specimens it contains has already been 

 mounted. 



At this point it is proper to acknowledge our great indebtedness to 

 the Secretary of War for the timely co-operation of the War Depart- 

 ment, which rendered the expedition possible. Our thanks are due to 

 the officers who were successively in command at Fort Keogh during 

 our work, Gol. John D. Wilkins, Col. George M. Gibson, and Lieut. Col. 

 M. A. Cochran, and their various staff officers ; particularly Lieut. C. 

 B. Thompson, quartermaster, and Lieut. H. K. Bailey, adjutant. It is 

 due these officers to state that everything we asked for was cheerfully 

 granted with a degree of promptness which contributed very greatly 

 to the success of the hunt, and lightened its labors very materially. 



I have already acknowledged our indebtedness to the officers of the 

 Pennsylvania -, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul ; and Northern 

 Pacific railways for the courtesies so liberally extended in our emer- 

 gency. I take pleasure in adding that all the officers and employes of the 

 Northern Pacific Bailway with whom we had any relations, particularly 

 Mr. C. S. Pee, general passenger and ticket agent, treated our party 

 with the utmost kindness and liberality throughout the trip. We are 

 in like manner indebted to the officers of the Chicago, Milwaukee and 

 St. Paul Eailway for valuable privileges granted with the utmost cor- 

 diality. 



Our thanks are also due to Dr. J. C. Merrill, and to Mr. Henry R. 

 Phillips, of the Phillips Land and Cattle Compan3 T , on Little Dry Creek, 

 for valuable information at a critical moment, and to the latter for hos- 

 pitality and assistance in various ways, ; t times wh?,n both were keenly 

 appreciated. 



Counting the specimens taken in the spring, our total catch of buffalo 

 amounted to twenty-five head, and constituted as complete and fine a 

 series as could be wished for. I am inclined to believe that in size and 

 general quality of pelage the adult bull and cow selected and mounted 

 for our Museum group are not to be surpassed, even if they are ever 

 equaled, by others of their kind. 



The different ages and sexes were thus represented in oar collection: 

 10 old bulls, 1 young bull, 7 old cows, 4 young cows, 2 yearling calves, 

 1 three-months calf* ; total, 25 specimens. 



Our total collection of specimens of Bison americanus, including 

 everything taken, contained the following : 24 fresh skins, 1 head skin, 

 8 fresh skeletons, 8 dry skeletons, 51 dry skulls, 2 foetal young; total, 

 94 specimens. 



Our collection as a whole also included a fine series of skins and 

 skeletons of antelope, deer of two species, coyotes, jack rabbits, sage 

 grouse (of which we prepared twenty-four rough skeletons for the De- 

 partment of Comparative Anatomy), sharp tailed grouse, and specimens 

 of all the other species of birds and small mammals to be found in 



* Caught alive, but died iu captivity July 26, 1886, and uowiu the mouuted group. 



H. Mis. 600, pt. 2 35 



