THE EUBOPEAN BISON. 

 (Dec. 21, 1889.) 



IT is not often that visitors to the Zoo have the 

 chance of seeing examples of so many species of wild 

 and domesticated cattle as are found in the Gardens 

 at the present time, and certainly never before have 

 specimens of the two largest and fiercest of the 

 wild cattle been in the collection simultaneously. 

 Such, however, is now the case, as, in addition to 

 the Graur presented to the Society a short time 

 ago, which, we may add, appears to be thriving 

 immensely, they have lately been fortunate enough 

 to receive ' ' on deposit " a bull European Bison, or 

 Aurochs (Bison bonasus) an addition to the 

 menagerie of no little interest; for, though this 

 bison is not "new to the collection/' it is many 

 years since a specimen has been seen in Eegent's 

 Park ; in fact, we believe we are correct in saying 

 that the last, a cow, was obtained about twenty 

 years since, and lived but a few weeks. 



The bisons, both European and American, are, 

 unfortunately, fast verging towards extinction, and 

 though but a few years ago such a thing would 

 have appeared impossible, there is now little doubt 



