The American bisons, living and extinct

Front matter

AT HARVARD COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,

Vol. IV. No.

THE AMERICAN

Introduction

The following monograph consists essentially of two quite distinct parts. The first embraces descriptions of the species, while the second is devoted to the consideration of the geographical distribution of Bison americanus. The first part of Part I, or that portion relating to the extinct species, is the least satisfactory, owing to the scantiness of the materials for their description. It has been my good fortune, however, to have the opportunity of examining nearly all the material thus far described from the United States relating to these interesting forms, including the original specimens of Bison la/ifrons and Bison antitjuus, as well as the later-described bison remains from California. The specimens from Eschscholtz Bay, described by Richardson, I have not had an opportunity of seeing, but I have had access to a few remains of the extinct bison from other Alaskan localities.

In the following pages two extinct species are recognized, which differ quite widely from each other, the one ( Bison Mifrons Leidy) being much larger than the other ( Bison mdiquus Leidy = Bison crassiconiis Richardson), with disproportionately larger horn-cores. Neither of the species is as yet known from satisfactory material, although enough of their remains have been found to indicate the existence of two widely differing forms. Without knowing positively more of Bison la/ifrons than the three cranial fragments thus far discovered represent, it is difficult to assign some other specimens to the one species rather than to the other, owing to our lack of knowledge of the sexual difference in size this large species may present. The female of the larger extinct species, judging from the sexual differences seen in the living species, would apparently about equal in size the male of the smaller one, and hence it is difficult to positively specifically assign such specimens as detached teeth or single bones of the extremities. Again, the female of the smaller extinct species being of about tbe size of the male of Bison americanus (perhaps a little smaller) still further complicates the problem.

INTRODUCTION.

The material for the description of Bison americanns, and for its comparison with the aurochs (Bison bonasus), has, on the other hand, been nearly all that could be desired, far exceeding that ever before brought together. To com¬ plete, in a measure, the history of this species, several pages are devoted to an account of its habits, based mainly on personal observation; while Part II — embracing by far the greater part of the paper — has been devoted entirely to the subject of its geographical distribution, including a history of its extirpation from the greater part of its former vast habitat. As bearing upon this general subject, a chapter has been devoted to an account of its products, another to the means and methods used for its destruction, not only by the different Indian tribes, but also by white men, and a third to the few attempts that have been made for its domestication. The preparation of this part of the paper has been very time-taking, the necessary research having absorbed the leisure time of many months. Although extended to so great a length, it cannot be considered as an exhaustive essay on the subject, but it is believed that the conclusions reached will not be much affected by future investigations, though many important details respecting particular districts may yet be added.

The problem of the best manner of presenting the historical part of the subject has offered many difficulties. I have, however, deemed it best to give the data in full, at the risk of prolixity, rather than to briefly sum¬ marize the facts, without giving the basis for the conclusions reached. I have hence often made copious quotations, verbatim, instead of giving simple references to authorities, thereby presenting in full whatever bears upon the special points at issue. As a geographical arrangement of the matter seemed clearest and most logical I have adopted that method of presenta¬ tion, dividing the area under discussion into several minor geographical regions. After stating in a somewhat general way the boundaries of the habitat of the American bison at the time when the different regions of the continent were first explored by Europeans (as indicated by the facts presented in the pages which follow), every portion of this boundary is after¬ wards discussed in detail, since the original limits of its range in different directions has been more or less the subject of discrepant opinions. Its original limit to the eastward has especially been a matter of dispute, or at least of conflicting statements, and to a less degree also its original limita¬ tion to the southward and westward. Taking, for instance, that portion of the United States east of the Mississippi River, — the first region treated in

INTRODUCTION.

Part II, — it was found necessary to examine in detail the alleged evidences of its former existence along the whole Atlantic seaboard from New Eng¬ land to Florida, over which many writers have assumed that it formerly ranged, — as well as southward to the Gulf coast, — but which a critical examination of the evidence fails to substantiate. Its actual eastern limit at the time of the first exploration of the Atlantic slope by Europeans being settled with as much certainty as available evidence will allow, the region of the Ohio Valley is next considered, where its former limits and relative abundance are traced with considerable fulness, together with its gradual total extirpation therefrom. Subsequently its former range and final extirpation over the trans-Rocky Mountain region is similarly treated. An effort is then made to define its former range south of the Rio Grande. A brief sketch is then given of its extirpation over the greater part of the vast region included between the Rio Grande on the south, the Platte River on the north, the Mississippi River on the east, and the Rocky Mountains on the west, with a definition of its present limited range within this area. The region lying between the Platte River on the south, the United States and British boundary on the north, the Mississippi River on the east, and the Rocky Mountains on the west, is next similarly treated. Finally its former vast range to the northward of the United States is defined, with a history of its extirpation over much of this area, and the limits of its present circumscribed range in the region north of the Platte River.

The accompanying map is designed to show not only the extreme limits of the known range of the buffalo (which was presumably about its range at the middle of the eighteenth century), but also its range at several different subsequent periods, as well as its habitat at the present time. The outer border of the blue area shows the extreme known range of the buffalo, while the space colored blue represents the area over which this animal had disap¬ peared prior to the year 1800. The outer border of the pink area shows approximately its extreme limits of distribution at this date, and the area colored pink the portion of country over which it disappeared during the succeeding twenty-five years. The portion colored green represents in like manner its restriction during the next succeeding twenty-five years, or between the years 1825 and 1850. The yellow area similarly shows its restriction between the years 1850 and 1875, and the orange spaces the limited areas over which it still exists. Other tints indicate the localities at which the remains of the extinct species have been found. The boun-

INTRODUCTION.

daries given cannot, of course, be more than approximate, but are believed to be as nearly correct as the data extant will permit.

No indigenous animal has perhaps figured so prominently in the history of Kentucky as the buffalo. It not only formed for a time the chief sub¬ sistence of some of the early pioneers of this State, but its fossil remains form large deposits at several localities about its numerous Salt Licks; while it is only in this State that any efforts for its domestication worthy of the name have as yet been made. Both of the extinct species were also first described from remains found in Kentucky; and it is to the great valley of the Ohio that we must mainly still look for further materials to furnish us with a clew to their fuller histories and distinctive characters.

In Part II will be found not only references to narratives of exploration and the records of the early settlement of the country, but also much matter hitherto unpublished. While due credit is given in each case for the infor¬ mation received from my many correspondents, — the name of the con¬ tributor being always given as the authority for the facts communicated,— it gives me pleasure to mention here a few of those to whom I am especially indebted for valuable contributions. Among these are Dr. F. V. Hayden, Geologist-in-chargc of the United States Geographical and Geological Survey of the Territories ; Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A., Naturalist of the United States and British Boundary Commission; Prof. S. F. Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; Professor George M. Dawson of McGill College, Montreal; J. S. Taylor, Esq., late U. §■ Consul at Winnipeg, B. N. A.; Hon. Wm. N. Byers, Editor of the Rocky Mountain News ; Mr. W. H. Dali, Assistr ant United States Coast Survey; Dr. W. S. Tremaine, U. S. A., of Fort Dodge, Kansas; Mr. J. Boll of Dallas, Texas; Dr. W. J. Hoffman, late Assistant Surgeon U. S. A.; Prof. B. F. Mudge of Kansas; Professor O. C. Marsh of New Haven, Conn.; Dr. J. G. Cooper of California; Mr. C. E. Aiken of Colorado Springs, Col.; Prof. J. R Loomis of Lewisburg, Pa.; Mr. C. W. Pritchett of Glasgow, Mo.; Mr. George Graham of Cincinnati, Ohio; E. T. Bowen, Esq., late General Superintendent of the Kansas Pacific Railway; C. F. Morse, Esq., Superintendent of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad; E. P. Vining, Esq., General Freight Agent of the Union Pacific Railroad ; and to various officers of the United States Army.

I am also especially indebted for the use of material to the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, without access to whose collections the preparation of this monograph would have been impossible. Also to the

INTRODUCTION.

Smithsonian Institution, Washington ; to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia ; to the California Academy of Sciences ; to the Boston Society of Natural History; and to Mrs. Romeo Elton of Boston, for the use of valuable specimens. Finally I wish to express my gratitude to Mr. N. S. Shaler, Director of the Geological Survey of Kentucky, and to Mr. Alexander Agassiz, Curator of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, for their liberality in providing for the accompanying plates and map, and to the former for valuable suggestions and information. I also wish to return thanks to Mr. Louis Trouvelot and to Mr. Paul Roetter for the careful manner in which they have executed the map and plates.

An unexpected delay in the completion of the plates having occurred, several months have elapsed since the main part of the paper was put in type, which has afforded an opportunity to include in the Appendix several valuable communications which were received too late to be inserted in their proper connection. These relate chiefly to the occurrence of the buffalo in Union County, Pennsylvania, and to the date of its extirpation in the Ohio Valley. Matter is also added in respect to the southern limit of the buffalo east of the Mississippi River, especially south of the Tennessee River, which somewhat modify statements made respecting this point in the main body of the paper. Hence the attention of the reader is especially called to these supplemental notes. In the Appendix will also be found an important communication by Mr. Shaler, “ On the Age of the Bison in the Ohio Valley.”

J. A. ALLEN.

Zooloot, Cambridge, Mass., May 24, 1876.

THE AMERICAN BISONS.