The European Bison. 35 



that the former will survive the longest, as, though 

 its range is confined to the Caucasus and to the 

 forest of Bialowicza, in Lithuania, it is most strictly 

 protected by the Emperor of Russia, while its 

 unfortunate American cousin has been practically 

 exterminated, having fallen a victim to the greed 

 of the pelt-hunters. 



The Aurochs, now, as we have said, extremely 

 restricted in its range, was originally an inhabi- 

 tant of all the large forests of central Europe, 

 and is in all probability, though the fact has 

 been disputed by many, and notably by Cuvier, 

 the Urus mentioned by Caesar, who described these 

 animals as being little inferior in size to the 

 elephant, but bulls in nature, colour, and figure, 

 and further mentioned their great strength, speed, 

 and fierceness. While in reality not quite so large 

 as an elephant, or indeed as a rhinoceros, to which 

 animal Cuvier compared it, the modern bison may 

 fairly be described as enormous, far exceeding in 

 size the American species, which otherwise it much 

 resembles. Yet it, in turn, is said to be much 

 smaller than its ancestors of quite recent times \ 

 indeed, the race is declared to be diminishing in 

 height and weight as it decreases in numbers, 

 though, apparently, it still retains its strength and 

 fierceness, as it is alleged that an old bull is a 

 match for four wolves. 



At the present time a large bull will stand 

 about 6 feet to the top of the hump on the 

 shoulders, and is about 11 feet long; whereas 

 D 2 



