THE EUROPEAN BISON. 43 



sides with its .tail, and the reddened and sparkling eyes 

 project from their sockets, and roll furiously. Such 

 is their innate wildness, that none of them have been 

 completely tamed. When taken young they become, 

 it is true, accustomed to their keepers, but the approach 

 of other persons renders them furious; and even their 

 keepers must be careful always to wear the same 

 sort of dress when going near them. Their great anti- 

 pathy to the Bos Taurus, which they either avoid or 

 kill, would render their domestication, if it were practi- 

 cable, but little desirable. The experiments made with 

 a view of obtaining a mixed breed from the Zubr and 

 Bos Taurus have all failed, and are now strictly prohibited." 



The rutting season is in August, and continues for 

 about a fortnight ; the calves are produced in May ; 

 thus, the period of gestation is between nine and ten 

 months. The calves continue to suckle nearly twelve 

 months, and the cows seldom calve oftener than once in 

 three years. 



The European Bison differs internally from the common 

 ox in having fourteen pairs of ribs, whereas the common 

 ox has but thirteen. The external differences between 

 the two animals are too obvious to require pointing out. 



In 1845, the Emperor of Russia presented to the British 

 Museum a very fine stuffed specimen of this animal, from 

 which the figure at the head of this chapter was taken. 



The following are its dimensions : 



Ft. In. 



Length from the nose to the insertion of the tail . 9 10 



Height at the withers . . . .., . 56 



at the rump . . . . . . 4 11 



Length of head 18 



of tail 3 



