The paper examines the behavior of anisotropic compact bone in tension at a range of strain rates. Specimens of fresh bovine bone were loaded at strain rates between .001 and 200 sec^-1. This bone was shown to exhibit considerable plasticity throughout the range, except when tested in a direction normal to the long axis. The modulus of elasticity, breaking stress and breaking strain were found to vary with strain rate. There is a maximum energy absorbtion capability at a strain rate of .1 sec^-1.