General Zoological Changes. 309 



a perpendicular slit, whilst the white sclerotica occupies the 

 fore-part of the space between the eyelids, and much of the 

 red conjunctiva becomes visible, and the eyes appear to spar- 

 kle and assume the expression of madness. 



The tongue, which, near its base especially, is covered with 

 hard tubercles, has a blue colour, as well as the lips, gums, 

 and palate. Bojanus says, that in three adult specimens he 

 found the colour of the tongue but little different from that of 

 the common ox : but Jarocki confirms Gilbert's statement as 

 to the blue colour. This probably increases with the state 

 of excitement of the capillary vessels, and is in a great mea- 

 sure lost some time after death, and Bojanus appears to have 

 seen only specimens that had been killed some time before. 



The tail is covered with short hair, and furnished at its ex- 

 tremity with a brush of long and bristly hair, which is nearly 

 as stiff as that of a horse's tail. In young specimens this brush 

 comes no farther down than the calcaneum tarsi, or the hock 

 joint; whereas in the old ones it reaches somewhat below it. 



The vertebras, of the tail descend only as low as the middle 

 of the thigh, or opposite the knee-joint, and the length of the 

 brush never exceeds 15 in. according to Hagen, (1. c. p. 213). 

 The statement of Cuvier that the tail reaches the ground, is, 

 therefore, erroneous. 



The smell from which the Bos urus has either obtained the 

 name of bison, or which has taken its German name, bisam, 

 from that of the animal, is between that of musk and violets. 

 Its chief seat is that part of the skin and hair which covers 

 the convexity of the forehead. It is stronger in the male than 

 in the female, and strongest during the rutting season, when 

 it may be perceived at the distance of a hundred yards from the 

 herd. The flesh of the zubr is not, however, tainted with it, 

 as in the B. moschatus ; on the contrary, it is extremely well- 

 flavoured, and Jarocki says, its taste is between that of the 

 elk and ox, which does not convey any definite idea to such 

 as, like myself, have never tasted the former.* It was so 

 highly esteemed in former times, that pickled zubr-beef was 

 sent from Poland as a present to foreign kings. The flesh of 

 the zubr roasted, looks blueish. The flesh of the bulls, even 

 in winter, is quickly tainted, if the scrotum be not cut off from 

 the fresh-killed carcass. 



The age to which the Bos urus attains, is differently stated 

 by different authors. Some assert that the animal never lives 

 longer than fifteen or sixteen years ; others allow it as many 



* Prince Dolgorukow's guests recognised in it a slight resinous taste. 



