Dec. 30, 1S88.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



488 



mm 



Crossbred Heifer, % buffalo, ?4 Galloway. ' Buffalo Bull, 6 years old, 

 nalf-brced Buffalo Cow. 



DOMESTICATED BUFFALO AND HALF-BREEDS. 



Buffalo Bull, 3 years-old. 



Cow, 



% Buffalo. % Galloway. 



Young Buffalo Bull. 



The largest one in the United States of which we have 

 any kno wledge mini bers about thirty head. This belongs 

 to Charley Alure. Mr. Goodnight has a dozen or fifteen 

 head, and Mr. Dupree, as we are informed by Mr. 

 Hornaday, nine pure bloods. William F. Cody has 

 about eighteen of these animals, and last spring had 

 no less than fire calves. His cows are apparently 

 more fertile lhan buffalo cows usually are in captivity, 

 and if this is the case we believe it to be due mainly to 

 the fact that they get more or less exercise, being daily 

 driven several times about a large inclosure by mounted 

 men and at a good rate of speed. All wild animals in a state 

 of nature take a great deal of exercise; often alarmed, 

 they run, and even when undisturbed are constantly 

 moving about in search of food. Such exercise they can- 

 not get in confinement, and therefore the functions of life 

 are disturbed and the health of the animal suffers, which 

 of coarse interferes with its productiveness. 



The remaining buffalo are scattered about in small groups 

 with shows or in the zoological gardens. The buffalo 

 breeds, however, even in close captivity,and there are some 

 calves which have never been outside their cages. Mr. 

 Jones's herd of buffalo, living on the range, as did their 

 ancestors, and thus leading a natural life, should do well, 

 and, although the buffalo is not a rapid breeder, should 

 increase. 



Attempts at buffalo domestication are not altogether 

 new, and as implied in the extract above quoted tame 

 buffalo were known in Virginia a century ago, and in 

 Kentucky only a little later. In 1842 the Hudson's Bay 

 Company had a herd of tame buffalo at Ft. Edmonton, 

 on the Saskatchewan. Like all the others it began with 

 the capture of a few calves, gradually increasing until it 

 numbered about thirty individuals. Although these 

 buffalo ranged and fed with the cattle, they never inter- 

 bred with them. This herd was finally lost, going off with 

 the wild buffalo one year when the latter came close to Ed- 

 monton. Althoughthe experiments have extended over so 

 long a time, but little has ever been put on record concern- 

 ing the breeding of the domesticated buffalo. Audubon re- 

 corded some facts furnished him by Mi-. Robert Wickliffe, 

 of Kentucky, and an occasional note on the subject has 

 appeared in Forest and Stream. Besides these, little or 

 nothing is known of the habits of this species in domesti- 

 cation. We therefore turn naturally for information 

 about buffalo breeding to Mr. Jones, who has for three 

 years had these animals on his farm, and who has given 

 careful attention to their habits. 



Although in his first attempts at capturing calves Mr. 

 Jones was probably only gratifying a fancy, he was 

 shrewd enough to see very soon that if his herd coidd be 

 made large enough it would produce money, and a good 

 deal of it. As the idea took shape and grew he devoted 

 more and more attention to the matter, purchased buffalo 

 singly or in herds whei*ever they could be had, until 

 from a bunch of four in 1885 his herd lias grown to 127 in 

 1888, and besides the twenty -three cross-breeds which he 

 has, he believes that he has' about one hundred domestic 

 cows in calf to buffalo bulls. 



Viewed from the commercial standpoint, there seems 

 little doubt as to the success of this experiment. No fur 

 has yet been found which offers such protection against 

 the cold as the buffalo robe. The buffalo coat is a neces- 

 sity throughout the Northwest — east of the Mountains. 

 No'thing else will keep out the cutting wind and the 

 bitter cold of the terrible winter storms of that region. 

 As we have already stated , the robe of the cross-bred stock 

 is better, more even and handsomer than that of the pure- 

 bred buffalo, and for such robes as these animals seem to 

 produce there will always be a market at good prices. 

 The hide of a three-year- old steer, three-fourths buffalo, 

 slaughtered by Mr. Jones, brought $75. This specimen 

 dresstd l,2801bs., and the flesh sold at 18 cents per pound, 

 making the total product of the animal something over 

 $300. The cross-bred cattle are said to be much heavier 

 than the pure bloods, and when it is understood that a 

 full-grown buffalo bull weighs more than 2,0001bs., it 

 will be seen that the importance of these animals as beef 

 cattle is very great. However, it will be readily con- 

 ceived that it is not from this point of view that the 

 breeder considers theni at the present time. He is raising 

 these cattle for breeding purposes, and it is in this, as 

 will be seen by reference to our recent remarks about 

 them, that then- chief value will be found. It seems 



altogether probable that by judicious inter-breeding with 

 our native range cattle, a new race, larger, stronger and 

 far heavier than anything now known, will be produced. 

 In the half-hreed stock the hump almost disappears, as 

 will be seen in the illustration, and we have an animal of 

 great size and tremendous sturdines -. The hardiness of 

 these cross-breeds is undoubted, their beef seemingly 

 equal to the best from domestic stock, and the milk, in 

 the cases when half-breeds have been tested, f air in quan- 

 tity and very rich. The fact that the cross-bred stocK are 

 fertile among themselves and with the parent stock on 

 either side is by far the most important point connected 

 with these experiments, and opens up limitless possibili- 

 ties looking toward the improvement of the domestic 

 cattle. 



Mr. Jones recommends the crossing of the buffalo with 

 the Galloway and Polled Angus, two strains of domestic 

 cattle re no wed for the excellence and quantity of the 

 beef which they produce and for their heaviness of coat. 

 The three-quarter and seven-eighth buffalo crosses with 

 these breeds are said to yield a robe as choice as sealskin, 

 and of the same color. Besides its outer hail-, the Gallo- 

 way is known to have an under fur winch is soft and 

 mossy, and gaining in length, thickness and gloss by the 

 buffalo cross, its robe is unequaled for warmth and 

 beauty. 



Mr. Jones' experience goes to show that the buffalo 

 cow is seldom or never impregnated by the domestic 

 bull, while the domestic cow breeds readily to the male 

 buffalo. The hybrids of whatever degree are fertile to 

 either parent. For many years a popular impression 

 has existed in the West 'that the domestic cow cannot 

 give birth to a calf by a buffalo bull, on account of the 

 hump, or as it is sometimes put, the great size of the 

 shoulders. This impression, to which allusion was made 

 in our editorial of Nov. 29, on "Buffalo Breeding," 

 we believe to be entirely erroneous. As a matter of fact 

 the buffalo calf has at birth no hump at all. It is a 

 large calf ; nothing more. All the great development of 

 the dorsal spines which form the hump, takes place dur- 

 ing the growth of the animal from birth to maturity. 

 The half-bred calf is a large animal, and small domestic 

 cows may have difficulty in parturition, but with large 

 loose-hipped cows, especially if they can be watched 

 when the time for calving approaches, there is no diffi- 

 culty. The domesticated buffalo are no more difficult to 

 handle than our ordinary cattle. The bulls are some- 

 times cross and unruly during the breeding season, but 

 not more so than at times are range bulls. As the 

 strength of the buffalo is greater than that of the domes- 

 tic stock, and as generations of inheritance have not yet 

 accustomed them to confinement, they need stronger 

 fences than cattle, if they are to be kept up close. 



From information which we are able to gather on this 

 subject it would seem that there are at present enough 

 captive buffaloes in this country to perpetuate the race in 

 a condition of domestication for along time. The rear- 

 ing of these animals seems to present no difficulties that 

 cannot be overcome, and fresh blood can he had by the 

 interchange of bulls between breeders living at a distance 

 from one another. The use of bulls for the improvement 

 in size and hardiness of our domestic range cattle is des- 

 tined to prove an important factor in the Western cattle 

 business, and the prophecies made in our article of t welve 

 years ago seem likely to be fulfilled. 



The illustrations which we present this week are from 

 photographs of individuals of Mr. Jones's herd. 



GAME IN TOWN. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Speaking of "game in town," about three weeks ago a 

 resident of this city found a buck one morning caught in 

 the fence surrounding his yard, and killed it with an axe. 

 Last year a bear was killed within the city limits about 

 three miles from where I am writing, 



I also saw a large owl on Boston Common some years 

 ago, and two other instances occurred near my home on 

 Beacon Hill, near the Gdded Do'me. A skunk was killed 

 on the next street to mine; and in the house across the 

 way a canary bird , which hung in a cage at an open win- 

 dow, was attacked by a large hawk. The hawk was 

 driven away with difficulty and made a fierce fight for the 

 possession of the bird. It is easier to account for thepres- 

 ence of the birds than that of the skunk. How the ani- 



mal ever found his way into the heart of Boston till he 

 met his fate in the back yard of a duelling house I never 

 could understand, but the fact remains. 



One Sunday a short time ago a black bpar went through 

 the village of Athens, Maine, passing through the main 

 street. He was followed and shot, and a friend of mine 

 bought the skin. The bear had only two feet, one lore 

 and one hind/oot being minus, so that his visit to town 

 was probably not his first introduction to the methods of 

 man. He had evidently had some previous exoerienee 

 with civilization in the shape of steel traps. W. *A. B. 



Bangor, Me., Dec. 10. ' 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



On relating to one of your subscribers an incident that 

 happened to me on Monday of this week, he said that < ou 

 would like to know of it, as it was of interest to all sports- 

 men. As I was about coming out of Geo, W. Russel's 

 jeweler's store. No. 22 N. Sixth, ex; ctly opposite Com- 

 mercial street,. I had just put my hand out to open the 

 door, when there was a loud thud'on the thick plate glass. 

 I turned to Mm and said, "George, those boys playing 

 there in the street are trying to give you a Christmas 

 present by breaking your glass," but on looking down I 

 saw a fine woodcock lying dead. It had evidently flown 

 straight up the street from Jersey, from beyond Camden, 

 across the river, and right up the street in a straight line, 

 striking the glass with terrific force, killing the bird and 

 almost breaking the glass. This happened about 12 

 o'clock noon. E. T. Johnson. 



PHIIiAOBLPUIA, Pa., Dec. 12. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Regarding two items in your paper a few weeks since 

 about a ruffed grouse and a bevy of quail havinc: been 

 seen in the city of Carobr dge, 1 would suggest that that 

 city must be a favored locality indeed, as a friend in- 

 formed me that he. on Nov. 28 (day before Thanksgiving), 

 saw a ruffed grouse within a few yards of his house in 

 Carnbridgeport, and leaving his breakfast tabio for two 

 or three moments, returned with the bird, which he had 

 in the meantime shot. I heard also of three quail bt ing 

 seen within a quarter of a mile of the Cambridge City 

 Hall, and also of two owls, one of which was shot. 

 Boston, Mass., Dec. C. Hub. 



OWL AND MAN, 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have just returned from my annual outing in the 

 Maine woods, of which I want to send you some account 

 if I can ever get time to write it, but I will give a few 

 bits this time which I think ought to be preserved. 



The first is of a singular encounter between a man and 

 an owl, the scene of which has often been pointed out to 

 me by my guides. The occurrence is well known, and if 

 I mistake not the hero of it is still living in Brown ville or 

 vicinity. A teamster, taking in a load of baled hay to a 

 lumber camp by the way of the old "tote road" from 

 Brownville to the Jo Merry Lakes, stopped late in the 

 afternoon to bait his horses. His halt was under a big yel- 

 low birch, and while his horses munched their oats the 

 teamster coiled himself up on the top of his load and 

 pulled his blanket over him for a little nap. Whether he 

 slept longer than he intended I do not know, but when he 

 awoke it was nearly dusk. He with a quick movement 

 drew his blanket from his face, when instantly his face 

 was pierced deeply by sharp and cruel talons. This fierce 

 onslaught had been made by a huge owl, which on seeing 

 his white face suddenly revealed, and doubtle-s taking it 

 tot a rabbit or some such animal, hud in-tanUy pounced 

 with all his energy from the tree above. The assaulted 

 man, frenzied with pain and terror, and not in the least 

 knowing what had seized him, grasped uesnerately at his 

 enemy, and clutching the legs of the owl with one hand 

 and its neck with the other, actually by one wivnch tore 

 its head from its body. How he extricated the talons 

 from his face and how he made his way to the clearings 

 and help the man hardly knew. I believe that by great 

 good fortune his eyes were not destroyed, but for a long 

 time the swollen condition of his face prevented him frcm 

 seeing, and I have often heard a description of his appear- 

 ance during that period. 



Several times my guides have told me of apparently 

 hostile swoops at their heads made by owls in the dutk, 

 but I have never heard, save in this one instance, of 

 actual injury so inflicted. C. H. Ames. 



