The Extermination of the American Bison

A detailed natural-history and conservation report documents the bison’s life history, physical characters, geographic range, habits, diet, and behavior, supported by observations and illustrations. It assesses economic and cultural relationships with humans, considers captivity and domestication including hybrids, and evaluates the animal’s value. A major portion records causes and methods of large-scale slaughter—hunting techniques, regional patterns, and the role of railways—providing statistics, legal responses, and consequences of population collapse. The work concludes with accounts of museum fieldwork to secure specimens, the preparation of mounted groups, and recommendations aimed at preventing the species’ absolute extinction.