310 On Man's Influence in effecting 



as twenty : but the game-keepers in the forest of Bialowicza, 

 who, I think ought to be heard before all others in that mat- 

 ter, believe that it lives fifty years and upwards. 



The strength of the zubr is enormous, and trees of 5 or 6 

 inches in diameter cannot withstand the thrust of old bulls. 

 It is neither afraid of the wolf nor bear, and assails its ene- 

 mies both with its horns and hoofs. An old zubr is a match 

 for four wolves ; packs of the latter animal however sometimes 

 hunt down even old bulls, when alone, but a herd of zubrs 

 has nothing to fear from any rapacious animal. 



Notwithstanding the great bulk of its body, the zubr can 

 run very swiftly. In galloping, its hoofs are raised above its 

 head, which it carries very low. However, the animal has 

 but little bottom, and seldom runs farther than one or two 

 English miles. It swims with great agility, and is very fond 

 of bathing. 



The zubr is generally exceedingly shy, and avoids the ap- 

 proach of man. They can only be approached from the lee- 

 ward, as their smell is extremely acute. However, when ac- 

 cidentally and suddenly fallen in with, they will passionately 

 assail the intruder. In such fits of passion the animal thrusts 

 out its tongue repeatedly, lashes its sides with its tail, and 

 the reddened and sparkling eyes project from their sockets 

 and roll furiously. Such is their innate wildness, that none 

 of them has ever been completely tamed. When taken young 

 they become, it is true, accustomed to their keepers, but the 

 approach of other persons renders them furious, and even 

 their keepers must be careful always to wear the same sort of 

 dress, when going near them. Their great antipathy to the 

 Bos taurus, which they either avoid or kill, would render their 

 domestication, if it were practicable, but little desirable. The 

 experiments made with a view of obtaining a mixed breed 

 from the zubr and Bos taurus, have all failed, and are now 

 strictly prohibited. Probably there is something in the smell 

 of the tame cattle which the zubr detests. But for this aver- 

 sion, the crossing might produce a valuable breed, as the fla- 

 vour of the beef might not only be improved, but the quality 

 of the leather also changed considerably for the better ; for 

 the hide of the zubr is double the thickness of that of a com- 

 mon ox, and is extremely tough, and far more durable for all 

 sorts of harness work. 



Now and then individuals of the zubr become, in their wild 

 state, uncommonly daring and fearless of man. This is par- 

 ticularly the case in such old bulls as walk alone. An in- 

 stance is related by Jarocky, where an old male of that de- 

 scription almost got the character of a highwayman. He 



