The first edition of this book is dated 1852. The edition used is dated 1884. The publisher was George Routledge and Sons Ltd., Ludgate Hill, London. The number of pages is 464.

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General information

This book was written after Mayne Reid discovered that writing books in which not too many people died, and there was not too much violence, was better business than writing as he did at first. There are three boys living with their father, now just a little disabled, but an avid collector of natural-history specimens. The father says he would give almost anything for the hide of a white buffalo, and that such a beast exists cannot be disputed. The boys volunteer to get up an expedition to bring back the much-desired hide, and off they go.

This book is the story of their quest. But it is also an interesting exposition of the animals and plants that inhabit the great prairies of America. The only real fault is that we are inevitably given the Latin name of the plant or animal. I don’t know why I should object to this, but I do. I don’t think it sits well within speech.

Still, the story is really interesting, and I greatly enjoyed transcribing it. I am sure I will read it many more times before my days are numbered, if I can.

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Contents

Chapter I.
The Home of the Hunter-Naturalist.

Chapter II.
The Hunter-Naturalist and his Family.

Chapter III.
The Prince’s Letter.

Chapter IV.
Going on a Great Hunt.

Chapter V.
The Camp of the Boy Hunters.

Chapter VI.
A Fox-Squirrel in a Fix.

Chapter VII.
François gets an Ugly Fall.

Chapter VIII.
About Alligators.

Chapter IX.
The Indian Mother and Caïman.

Chapter X.
The Food of the Silkworm.

Chapter XI.
The Chain of Destruction.

Chapter XII.
The White-Headed Eagle.

Chapter XIII.
Three Buffaloes with Wings.

Chapter XIV.
A Wild-Turkey Hunt.

Chapter XV.
Trailing with a Blood-Hound.

Chapter XVI.
Jeanette and the Javalies.

Chapter XVII.
A Cunning Cat and a Sly Old ’Possum.

Chapter XVIII.
An Odd Adventure before Breakfast.

Chapter XIX.
Jerking a Bear.

Chapter XX.
A Nocturnal Adventure.

Chapter XXI.
The Circle of Fire.

Chapter XXII.
The Lone Mound.

Chapter XXIII.
The Hunt of the Wild Horse.

Chapter XXIV.
A Dog-Town.

Chapter XXV.
A Night in the Desert.

Chapter XXVI.
The Prong-Horns.

Chapter XXVII.
Decoying an Antelope.

Chapter XXVIII.
Scattering the Cimmarons.

Chapter XXIX.
Besieged by Grizzly Bears.

Chapter XXX.
An Escape from the Bear-Scrape.

Chapter XXXI.
The Vultures and their King.

Chapter XXXII.
More Talk about the Vultures.

Chapter XXXIII.
Supping upon a Skeleton.

Chapter XXXIV.
The Battle of the Bulls.

Chapter XXXV.
The Mysterious Wallet.

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