General Zoological Changes. 311 



would station himself on the high road, and, without minding 

 the clack of whips, rush at the carriages or sledges, and make 

 the horses run away. 



Up to the age of ten or twelve years, the zubrs live together 

 in herds of from ten to forty head. At a greater age, the bulls 

 either separate themselves of their own accord, or are expell- 

 ed from the herd. However in the rutting season, these old 

 bulls join the herd again, and even such as are no longer ca- 

 pable of propagating their species, which they are said to be 

 up to the age of thirty, are considerably excited, and rage in- 

 discriminately against their own kind. At this season, three- 

 years-old bulls, and even cows, are not unfrequently found 

 killed by these savage anchorites ; which, as the processes of 

 the dorsal vertebra continue growing, are easily distinguish- 

 ed by the great developement of the boss on their withers. — 

 The rest are particularly playful during that season, and de- 

 light in up-rooting young trees, whereby they sometimes in- 

 jure their horns. 



As to the period of gestation in this species, I find different 

 statements. In the French dictionaries of natural history, it 

 is said to last eleven months. Bojanus says it lasts nine, and 

 Mr. Eichwald, seven or eight, as he found that the calves are 

 born about the latter end of March. They generally bear but 

 one calf, but at the most vigorous age sometimes have twins. 

 The calf follows its mother as soon as it is dry, and is suckled 

 for a whole year, according to Jarocki ; Mr. Eichwald, on the 

 contrary, says the males drive it away from the cow at the be- 

 ginning of the rutting season, which would make the suckling 

 time only five or five and a half months. As, however, the 

 game-keepers know with precision that the cows bear only 

 once in three years, 1 have the greater faith in Mr. JarockTs 

 statement. 



The thickets near the swampy banks of rivers and rivulets 

 are the favourite places where the Bos urus takes up his resi- 

 dence, and from which the animal seldom walks to any con- 

 siderable distance. In summer, and during the warmer por- 

 tion of autumn, they select sandy spots ; in winter they keep 

 quiet by day, in the thickest part of the fir wood, only brows- 

 ing at night, and finding sustenance in the bark of young trees. 

 In spring they resort to neighbouring places where the her- 

 baceous plants which they relish begin to sprout. 



The food of the Bos urus consists, first, of the bark of trees; 

 and it is to the bitter ones, as willows, poplars, horse-ches- 

 nuts, &c. that they give the preference. The hardness of 

 these substances often causes the incisors, in old zubrs, to be 

 worn away down to the gums. They are also fond of lichens 



Vol. II.— No. 18. n. s. n n 



