150 Zoological Society. 



jumped on their feet, and seemed to concentrate all their faculties 

 in two senses, hearing and sight. The calves pressed timidly 

 against their mothers. Then, when the noise of the hounds 

 resounded, the Bisons hastened to range themselves in the order 

 which they usually take in similar circumstances, namely, placing 

 their calves in front they form the rear-guard, to protect them from 

 the pursuit of the dogs, and advance. Arrived at the line occupied 

 by the beaters and the keepers, they were received with piercing 

 cries and firing of guns. They then changed the order of defence ; 

 the old Bisons rushed with fury on one side, broke the line of chase, 

 and continued their course victoriously, bounding along, and dis- 

 daining to trouble themselves about their enemies who were crouching 

 against the enormous trees. The keepers however succeeded in 

 detaching two calves from the troop : one, aged 3 months, was taken 

 at once; the other of 15 months, though seized by eight persons 

 overthrew them and fled. The dogs were set in pursuit, and the Bison, 

 forced into a marsh, was bound and carried to the courtyard of the 

 forester. Four Bison calves, 1 male and 3 females, were taken in 

 other places in the forest. One of these females, aged only a few 

 days, was suckled at first by a domestic cow, of a fawn colour simi- 

 lar to that of the Bison, and, to the surprise of every one, the cow 

 manifested a tender attachment for this adopted wild and bearded 

 young one. Unfortunately the young animal died six days after- 

 wards, suffocated by a swelling in the neck, which it had before it 

 was caught, and which was continually increasing. The other calves 

 took no food the first day of their cajjtivity ; but on the following 

 day, the one aged 3 months began to suck a cow and seemed gay 

 and lively. Its companions in captivity, excepting the one 15 

 months old, began at first to take milk from a man's hand, then 

 they drank from a pail with great avidity, and when the pail was 

 empty they licked one another's muzzles. In a short time they lost 

 their wild look, and their timidity changed into an extreme vivacity 

 and petulance. When let out of their stable, into the large court- 

 yard of the farm, the i-ai)idity of their movements, their agility, 

 and the lightness of their leaps, similar to those of the goat or stag, 

 astonished every one. They played with the calves of the domestic 

 cows of their own accord, combated with them, and although 

 stronger, they appeared to yield to them from generosity. The male 

 Bison of 15 months for a long time preserved his wild and stern 

 look ; he was irritated at the approach of any one, shook his head, 

 lashed his tail, and presented his horns. After two months of cap- 

 tivity he was at length tamed, and attached himself to the peasant 

 who fed him ; and then more liberty was given him. The Bisons 

 are in general fond of striking the ground with their feet, throwing 

 the earth into the air, and then rearing as horses do. They 

 exhibit much attachment to the person who feeds and looks after 

 them, come and rub themselves aga,inst him, licking his hands, and 

 obeying his voice; they run bounding up when he calls them. 

 Whenever they Avere let out of the stable, they grew animated, raised 

 their head jjroudly, dilated their nostrils, snorted with force, and 

 gave themselves up to all kinds of sports ; but soon perceiving that 



