.1890.] The American Bison of the Future. 793 
possibly be added to in the future by new captures from the wild 
herds. Now, what do we propose to do with these remnants 
to preserve them from the surest forms of destruction that seem- 
ingly await them, if not carefully avoided: (a) in breeding, and (2) 
out-crossing? For there is just now as much danger from the 
latter as from the former. 
We are not in the position of the “early improvers” of the 
bovine race; that is, of those who took it in hand within the last 
hundred years to rescue from a conglomerate promiscuity the 
various types of bovine excellence. By them in-breeding was 
necessary, essential, primarily, to establish the type. Their 
period of out-crossing had been going on during the centuries 
previous to the commencement of the improving period. But we 
have no type to establish; in fact, hardly any characteristics to 
improve; we have only to use those means of amelioration which 
captivity, that is, domesticity, brings. Therefore we, and it is 
fortunate for us, do not need to resort to the usual initial essential 
of in-breeding. But that is, nevertheless, the chief thing; in fact, 
with the limited alliances at our disposal, the main thing to avoid. 
And it is as to a means to avoid that, that the vital purpose of 
this paper is designed to deal. 
The danger of out-crossing is the establishment of a mixed or 
bastard race of bisontine-bovines. The danger is real, but the 
means of avoiding the first danger—in-breeding—covers this. 
With the alliances existing, what can be done to increase them, 
and not to circumscribe their area, not to bring their points of 
convergence too close? We have to widen these points as much 
as possible. Within the limits of the existing relationships— 
which are in reality just now sufficiently distant, that is, in so far 
as tracing to their common ancestors is concerned—we have to 
out-cross as much as possible. This would appear to be an easy 
matter to do, by the simple interchange of blood from one herd to 
another. But that, under existing conditions of ownership, and 
want of cohesion of breeders as a whole, would likely soon prove 
abortive. We have to look for some means of effecting cohesion 
and a unity of purpose and interest among owners and breeders. 
