ORDER ARTIODACTYLA: EVEN-TOED UNGULATES 531 



[The Domestic Yak (Poephagus grunniens grunniens (Linnaeus) ) 

 is one of the most important beasts of burden in the high plateaus 

 and mountains of Central Asia. It is even used as a saddle animal. 



They "are always much smaller than their wild cousins, with very 

 inferior horns," and "vary much according to locality. ... At 

 lower levels in various parts of Ladak and the Himalaya pied 

 domestic breeds are common; and it is from the tails of these that 

 the fly-whisks, or chowris, used in India are made. Near Darjiling 

 there exists a very small breed of yak, some individuals of which 

 are black, and others black and white. Of this and other breeds 

 living at comparatively low elevations there is a polled form, which 

 probably keeps true. Domestic yak are freely crossed with the 

 ordinary Indian cattle." (Lydekker, 1898c, pp. 54-55.) 



The use of the Domestic Yak has extended far beyond the range 

 of its wild ancestor, as "all over the eastern half of Turkestan" 

 above 6,000 feet (Severtzoff, 1876, p. 336) and in the Russian Altai 

 (Demidoff, 1900, pp. 176-180, 185).] 



Lithuanian Bison. Wisent (Ger.). Zubr (Russian) 



BISON BONASUS BONASUS (Linnaeus) 



Bos bonasus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 71, 1758. (Type locality 

 probably Bielowitza, Lithuania, fide Lydekker, 1913c, vol. 1, p. 35.) 



FIGS.: Royal Nat. Hist., vol. 2, frontisp., 1894; Lydekker, 19126, pi. 22, upper 

 fig.; Jour. Soc. Preservation Fauna Empire, pt. 11, frontisp., 1930; Lund- 

 bergh, 1933, p. 132, fig.; Leister, 1935, p. 56, fig.; Mohr,'l935?, 5 figs.; 

 Pocock, 1937, p. 655, fig. 



By 1935 the pure-blooded Lithuanian Bison remaining in cap- 

 tivity did not number more than a few dozen individuals; none 

 were left in a wild state. 



"Height at shoulder from 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches; hind-quarters 

 relatively high, pasterns long, tail reaching hocks or below. Horns, 

 black, relatively long and slender, curving upwards, forwards, and 

 inwards .... Mane of males in summer coat curly, moderately 

 long, and not extending very far back on body, . . . forming a 

 larger and thicker mass on head, neck, throat, and middle line of 

 chest. In females restricted to nape, forehead, middle of lower part 

 of face, and median line of chest. Colour brown, with a tinge of 

 plum-colour." (Lydekker, 1913c, vol. 1, pp. 35-36.) 



STATUS OF THE SPECIES UP TO 1800 



The Wisent was once "abundant throughout Europe, as proved 

 by the fossil remains of this or a closely allied form. . . . Caesar 

 mentions it as abounding, along with the aurochs, in the forests of 

 Germany and Belgium. It appears to have been occasionally cap- 

 tured and afterwards exhibited alive in the Roman amphitheatres. 



