European Bison 73 



1879 



1880 

 I88I 

 1882 

 1883 



1885 (Jan.) 



„ (Dec.) 

 1886 

 1887 

 1889 

 1890 (Feb.) 



„ (Dec.) 

 i89i(Dec.) 

 1892 (Jan.) 



This table shows that from i^y], till 1882 the herd was gradually 

 recuperating itself, but that between 1883 '^''"^ ^^^5 ^^ suffered a very 

 heavy loss, irom which date it went on rapidly diminishing till the end 

 of 1890, when a considerable rise was established ; this increase being also 

 marked in the two following years, when the counting ceased. 



Regarding the gradual diminution in the number of the Lithuanian 

 bison, the following are some of the data furnished by the same author. 

 It appears that bison-shooting — unless by special permission — was pro- 

 hibited in the Bielowitza forest by an imperial ukase in the autumn of 

 1802. How many animals have actually been shot since that date it is 

 difficult to estimate, as the official records do not seem altogether reliable. 

 It is stated, for instance, that between 1832 and i860 only eighteen bison 

 were shot ; but Dr. BUchner says that this does not include an example 

 killed in 1848 for the museum at Kiew. In i860 an imperial hunt was 

 organised in the forest, when twenty-eight bison (eighteen bulls and 

 ten cows) were slaughtered. In 1865 a pair were shot for the museums 

 of Strasburg and Gottingen, and in 1871 one was killed for Helsingfors. 

 Between 1873 and 1892 a total of fifteen head were hunted and slain. 



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