250 Description of the Menagerie 
water in which to bathe, a thick shade to screen them from 
the sun, as well as an open field in which they may enjoy its 
rays. 
Several very rare animals have lived in the menagerie of 
Scheenbrunn: but we shall only instance at present the wild ox of 
Transylvania, known to naturalists by the name of aurochs ( Bos 
wrus), a species remarkable for the crest or mane it presents on 
its back. The aurochs is new an almost extinct breed, and it is 
only in Lithuania that it is to be met with: it should seem as 
if this species had been very abundant inthe forests of that part 
of Europe, as well asin those of Hungary. Thus, as ave have had 
occasion to observe in the living state the animal designated 
by Aristotle as the bonasos, and which the moderns had parti> 
eularly distinguished by the name of aurochs and bos wus 3 we 
thought that the description of an animal so rare might be 
interesting to naturalists. We have therefore been induced to 
publish the following observations, which we had collected re- 
specting an animal that natyralists have so seldom seen. This 
description might also have a high degree of interest, since the 
bones of the same individual which we have seen living, are de- 
posited in the Natural History Mnseum at Paris. 
The aurochs, or wild ox of the north of Europe, is a species 
known since the time of Aristotle, who alone of all the Greeks 
has left us a detailed description, in designating them under the 
name of lonasos. While thus designating the azrochs, the 
Pzonians called it monapos, and it seems that it was still 
known under the name of monops, of monelos, and ef monapos. 
As, subsequently, various Latin authors haye erroneously distin- 
euished two kinds of wild oxen, some moderns, thinking they 
discovered the second species in the bison, have thought that the 
Greek expression bonasos was a translation of “the Celto- 
Scythian word won'nas, formed of the article as and the 
Sclavonic word wonny, which signifies perfume. Thus, as 
Aristotle observed that the Lenasos was ealled by the Ponians 
monapos; this latter word has heeri derived from monapuax, signi- 
fying having a thick mane. It is evident that all these etymo- | 
logies may be weil founded, since the aurochs exhales a very | 
pereeptible smell of musk, and presents a thick mane; but they 
are far from proviig the opinion which is sought to be drawn. 
The description given ‘by Aristotle of the aurechs is too -de- 
tailed to permit us to quote it entirely; but we shall give the = 
principal heads of it: ‘* The size of the aurochs is that of a bull, 
but shorter and thicker than the ox. Its skin is so large that 
it may serve as a hed for seven persons. Its mane is covered 
with softer and longer hairs than that of the horse. The breast 
of the bonasos is fawn-coloured, and its mane is of a reddish 
