Dear Oom John:—Every lover of outdoor life must feel a sense of affectionate obligation to you. Your writings appeal to all who care for the life of the woods and the fields, whether their tastes keep them in the homely, pleasant farm country or lead them into the wilderness. It is a good thing for our people that you should have lived; and surely no man can wish to have more said of him. I wish to express my hearty appreciation of your warfare against the sham nature-writers—those whom you have called “the yellow journalists of the woods.” From the days of Æsop to the days of Reinecke Fuchs, and from the days of Reinecke Fuchs to the present time, there has been a distinct and attractive place in literature for those who write avowed fiction in which the heroes are animals with human or semi-human attributes. This fiction serves a useful purpose in many ways, even in the way of encouraging people to take the right view of outdoor life and outdoor creatures; but it is unpardonable for any observer of nature to write fiction and then publish it as truth, and he who exposes and wars against such action is entitled to respect and support. You in your own person have illustrated what can be done by the lover of nature who has trained himself to keen observation, who describes accurately what is thus observed, and who, finally, possesses the additional gift of writing with charm and interest. You were with me on one of the trips described in this volume, and I trust that to look over it will recall the pleasant days we spent together. Your friend, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. THE WHITE HOUSE, October 2, 1905. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE WITH THE COUGAR HOUNDS 1 CHAPTER II A COLORADO BEAR HUNT 68 CHAPTER III WOLF-COURSING 100 CHAPTER IV HUNTING IN THE CATTLE COUNTRY; THE PRONGBUCK 133 CHAPTER V A SHOT AT A MOUNTAIN SHEEP 181 CHAPTER VI THE WHITETAIL DEER 193 CHAPTER VII THE MULE-DEER OR ROCKY MOUNTAIN BLACKTAIL 224 CHAPTER VIII THE WAPITI OR ROUND-HORNED ELK 256 CHAPTER IX WILDERNESS RESERVES; THE YELLOWSTONE PARK 287 CHAPTER X BOOKS ON BIG GAME 318 CHAPTER XI AT HOME 339