INTRODUCTION. 13 



studied with the aid of the dissecting knife, other facilities 

 are required for the proper study of the mental endowments 

 of the animal, and for this, observations of the animal in 

 life are indispensable. Here, then, especially may the natu- 

 ralist find many valuable lessons in the several papers col- 

 lected and given to the world in this volume. The hunter 

 alone has complete opportunity to study the habits, char- 

 acteristics, and capabilities of the animals which he pur- 

 sues. He observes and studies carefully the sagacity and 

 cunning of the Fox, the Wolf, and many other animals, in 

 securing a supply of food or in avoiding danger, showing 

 capabilities with which they are endowed for their well- 

 being. In the American Antelope, for instance, he sees a 

 curiosity manifested which often leads it to destruction. 



The sportsman, I say, studies and observes all these 

 characteristics, not alone because they interest him and fur- 

 nish him food for thought while on the hunt and for dis- 

 cussion by the camp-fire, but because he is aware that he 

 must know all the resources of the game in order to hunt 

 it successfully. 



I repeat, therefore, that he who would scientifically 

 study natural history, will find much in the papers, written 

 by these skillful, practical hunters, and given to the world 

 in this volume, to aid him to a full understanding of this 

 vast subject, for which he might look in vain elsewhere. 



And, then, what an array of subjects is here presented for 

 study! Every species of "Big Game inhabiting this conti- 

 nent is here served up; and several species that do not strictly 

 come within that classification are treated, because they 

 occasionally afford sport or incident to the hunter when in 

 search of other animals. Among the most important papers 

 are those on the Buffalo — now, alas! practically extinct — in 

 its wild state; those on the Polar Bear and the Musk-ox, 

 furnished by survivors of the memorable Greely Arctic 

 Expedition, who hunted and subsisted largely on these 

 and other wild animals while battling with icebergs, 

 starvation, and death in the frozen North. The Rocky 

 Mountain Groat, that mysterious and little-known habitant 



