492 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1959 
Russia and Transcaucasia, the Axis deer (Cervus nippon) has been 
introduced. There have been attempts to populate the Caucasus with 
Siberian marmots. The same work has been done with certain birds— 
the pheasant, the capercaillie, the hazel hen, the Hungarian or gray 
partridge, the rock partridge, the ptarmigan, and the black grouse. 
Attempts to increase and reintroduce the European bison should 
also be mentioned. It was well known that this species, with its un- 
equaled scientific and historic value, was in a most precarious position 
after the two World Wars. Now, pureblooded European bison are 
well taken care of and have multiplied extremely well in our national 
parks of Bialovezh and of Oka (Serpukov district, in the region of 
Moscow). A large number of hybrid bison (but of nearly pure blood) 
live in the national park of the Northwest Caucasus. 
These are only a few examples of work undertaken by the U.S.S.R. 
in introduction and reintroduction. 
For birds, we are proceeding on a large scale with measures for their 
protection, for the improvement of nesting conditions, etc. There have 
been several attempts to import the eggs and young of insectivorous 
species to new tree farms, as well as measures to establish mallards 
and bean geese (Anser anser) on certain water systems. 
Fishes have also been introduced. We can cite the very successful 
introduction of the mullet (A/ugil cephalus) in the Caspian Sea, under- 
taken in 1934; that of the sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris) in the 
Aral Sea between 1934 and 1952; the bringing of the trout (Salmo 
ischan) from Lake Sevan in Armenia to Lake Onega (near Lenin- 
grad) ; the introduction of the lavaret (Coregonus lavaretus, a white- 
fish of central Europe) in many lakes of European Russia; that of 
topminnows (Gambusia afinis) in many localities to control malarial 
disease; attempts to introduce in various lakes the sturgeon and the 
sterlet (another, but smaller, sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus). Finally, 
there have been attempts to improve feeding conditions for the stur- 
geons of the Caspian Sea by introducing nereid worms. 
Thus, we see that results already obtained in the domain of nature 
protection in the U.S.S.R. are encouraging. But there can be no 
doubt that there is much yet to do. We must remember that besides 
the ecological studies to be intensified, besides the official organization 
that must be unified and enlarged, besides the strict application of the 
law, game regulations are being abused and habitats necessarily 
undergo many changes. Widespread understanding of the concepts 
of nature conservation must be developed, especially among the new 
generation, in both primary and secondary schools (already in many 
of our universities there are courses dealing with nature protection). 
Finally, it must be said that the solution of many problems—and 
not the least important ones—concerned with the protection of the 
