538 



EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



of over three-quarters of a million acres in a locality formerly 

 occupied by the European bison, of which, however, the keepers 

 have yet found no trace" (Mitchell, 1931, pp. 36-37). 



For the laudable purpose of preserving racial purity, it would 

 seem just as desirable to prevent interbreeding between the Lithu- 

 anian and the Caucasian Bisons in Europe as between the Plains 

 and the Woodland Bisons in America. Such a policy is strongly 



J-jp t ._ ro 



FIG. 51. Caucasian Bison (Bison bonasus caucasicus) 



advocated by Groeben (1929). Unfortunately, it seems doubtful 

 whether any pure-blooded Caucasian Bison survive in zoos or 

 preserves; at any rate, there are probably not a sufficient number 

 to perpetuate this racial stock in an undiluted condition. 



Wild Indian Buffalo. Arna (male), Arni (female) 

 (Hindustani) 



BUBALUS BUBALIS ARNEE (Kerr) 



Bos Arnee Kerr, Linnaeus' Anim. Kingdom, p. 336, pi. facing p. 356, upper 

 left-hand fig., 1792. ("India north from Bengal"; type locality restricted 

 by Harper (1940, p. 326) to "Kuch Bihar.") 



FIGS.: Inverarity, 1895, pis. A-C; Lydekker, 1898c, pi. 9, p. 119, fig. 25; 

 Lydekker, 1900, pi. 2, figs. 5, 5a, p. 75, fig. 10; Lydekker, 1913c, vol. 1, 

 p. 42, fig. 15; Van der Byl, 1915, pi. 35; Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Sci. Guide 

 118, ed. 2, p. 113, 1943. 



