532 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



At that period, and long after, it seems to have been common 

 throughout central Europe, as we learn from the evidence of Herber- 

 stein in the 16th century." (Lydekker, 1910, vol. 4, p. 11.) 



"Unfortunately, there is some difficulty in ascertaining the precise 

 limits of the range of the bison, owing to the fact that it was pre- 

 ceded by a closely allied extinct species (B. prisons). . . . The 

 wonderful rock-paintings on the walls of the cavern of Altamira, 

 in Spain, prove that bison formerly inhabited that country; and 

 there is likewise evidence that they once existed in Greece." The 

 range of the bison is "known to have extended from western and 

 southern Europe through the intermediate countries to Poland, 

 Russia, and the Caucasus, while there is evidence that it likewise 

 stretched so far north as the valley of the Lena, in Siberia." (Ly- 

 dekker, 1912, p. 209.) 



Brandt mentions (1867, p. 175), as lands where the Bison has 

 existed within historic times, the Caucasus, European Russia, 

 Thrace, Macedonia, Rumania, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Bo- 

 hemia, and Switzerland; he also mentions, as possible parts of its 

 range, Central Asia, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Persia, France, Eng- 

 land, Denmark, and Sweden. Floericke (1930, p. 8) reports it from 

 France as late as the sixth century. In the Carpathians (Rodnaer 

 Gebirge) it survived certainly up to 1762 (Calinescu, 1931, p. 82). 

 In Saxony it was exterminated in 1793 (Krumbiegel, 1930, p. 6). 



The existence of the species in the Jaktorowka Forest of Poland 

 about the middle of the sixteenth century is recorded by Herber- 

 stein. "The bison was gradually killed off in western Europe as 

 cultivation and civilization advanced, so that the range of the 

 species became restricted to the more eastern and northern parts 

 of the Continent. When it finally disappeared from France and 

 western Germany does not appear to be known ; but there is evidence 

 that the last East Prussian bison was killed by a poacher in the year 

 1755 between Labiau and Tilsit." (Lydekker, 1912, p. 210.) 



Economic uses. In the Middle Ages the animals were taken in 

 pitfalls. In Poland the flesh was considered a delicacy and was 

 utilized as a princely gift. The hide was commonly made into thongs 

 and traces. Horns and hoofs were made into various objects, to 

 which superstition ascribed secret virtues. The horns were orna- 

 mented with silver and used as drinking vessels. Although as a 

 rule the animal remains untamable, it is said that in 1740 Count 

 Lazar was driven to a meeting of the diet in Hermannstadt, Tran- 

 sylvania, behind a team of Wisents. For some two centuries at least 

 (say 1550 to 1750), combats between Wisents and Wolves, Bears, 

 and other animals were staged in Germany for the amusement of 

 the populace. (Floericke, 1930, pp. 11, 32.) 



