68 Oxen 



however, certain that hison were abundant in the Black Forest at the time 

 of Juhus C;rsar ; and tliey doubtless sur\'ivcd in many parts of Germany 

 and other districts of the Continent to a much later period. Owing, how- 

 ever, to the confusion which has arisen in regard to the application ot the 

 names aurochs and bison, it is frequently impossible to determine which 

 animal is the one referred to bv many of the older writers. At the present 

 day bison appear to be restricted to the Caucasus and the forest of Bielo- 

 witza, in the government of Grodno, the old Lithuania. Whereas, how- 

 ever, in the latter locality thev are strictly preserved anti almost in the 

 condition of park-animals, in the Caucasus, according to Mr. St. CJeorge 

 Littletlale and Prince Demidotf", thev are truly wikl, although also under 

 Government protection. 



In the Caucasus, Dr. G. Radde states that the bison is at present 

 confined to the districts around the sources of the Laba and Bjellaia, on the 

 north siile of the range, extending eastwards to the springs of the Zellent- 

 chuk. " It is s.arce everywhere, and generallv seen in twos and threes ; 

 only once have the tracks of seven together been noticed, although 

 occasionally as many as five have been observed. Evidently the bison has 

 discontinued its settled habits, and has taken to wander about in this, its 

 last refuge. Through the ever- increasing encroachments of the settlers, 

 ami the consequent dispersal of the wild animals, and also, in many places, 

 owing to the new supervision ot the forests, the bison is driven more and 

 more towartls the higher ridges of the mountains, and wanders about 

 in the thick forests which border the lower portion ot the Alpine 

 pasturages. 



"The most likely places to hnd this animal are at present near the 

 sources of the Little Laba, and especially on its western confiuent, the 

 Urushten. This river is joined by a small stream, the Alaus, in the valley 

 of which the bison is often met with. It is trom 7000 to Sooo teet above 

 the sea-level. Formerly, ;;o or 40 years ago, it was met with much lower 



