I20 Game of Europe, W. Sc N. Asia & America 



its eastern limits being approximately indicated by the sources of the 

 Zellentchuk. Throughout its habitat in this part of the Caucasus it appears, 

 however, to be comparatively rare, and is generally found only in twos or 

 threes, although occasionally as many as five may be seen in company. 



Since full details of the habits of this noble animal, as well as the 

 numbers of the herd in the Bielowitza forest, are given in IV/7J Oxen, Sheep, 

 and Goats of All Lands, they need not be repeated on the present occasion. 

 Since that account was written, Mr. E. N. Buxton ^ has, however, 

 published some notes on the bison made during a visit to the Bielowitza 

 forest in 1898 which are of much interest. After stating that, in company 

 with the chief forester, Mr. Neverli, he drove for many miles through 

 the forest, he writes as follows of the bison : — 



" It occupies a country which is almost dead flat, but is intersected by 

 a few sluggish streams. With the exception of the meadows which 

 border the latter, and a few clearances for cultivation round small villages, 

 there are no open spaces : consequently, although the timber, which 

 consists mainly of oak, elm, birch, spruce, and fir, is very fine, the forest 

 is tame and wanting in variety. This monotony is enhanced by the 

 unfortunate practice of removing all windfalls, a most short-sighted 

 policy, as I think, because nothing so assists the warmth, shelter, and 

 sense of security of a forest, for wild animals, as fallen timber, through 

 the branches of which a tangle of wild growth quickly penetrates and 

 forms a natural screen. The artificial effect is further increased by an 

 immense extent of grass rides, which are cut in perfectly straight lines, at 

 right angles to one another, dividing the forest into squares of four 

 kilometres for the convenience of driving the game. There are nearly 

 four hundred lineal kilometres of these rides. 



" Mr. Neverli estimates the herd of bisons at the present time at about 

 seven hundred, and he puts the elk, which frequent the wettest parts, at 



1 Proceedings Zool. Soc. London, 1S99, p. 64. 



