36 The European Bison. 



a height of 7 feet and a length of 13 feet have 

 been recorded. The two species of bison are 

 wonderfully alike in general appearance j they 

 both have huge, ungainly heads, humps between 

 the shoulders, and long shaggy manes on their 

 heads and necks, with long beards under their 

 chins ; the hind parts are smaller than the fore, 

 and have a comparatively weak appearance, though 

 this is more noticeable in the American than in the 

 European form. Again, in both cases the females 

 are smaller and less shaggy than the male. The 

 Aurochs, however, is by far the larger and finer 

 animal, and, as indeed might be expected, has 

 better horns. The two species, again, differ com- 

 pletely in their temperament ; for, while the 

 European bison is famous for its ferocity, the 

 American is sluggish and timid though this 

 description hardly applies to the American bison 

 bull at the Zoo, which is as bad-tempered and fierce 

 a beast as can be found in the collection and, in 

 addition, has the credit of being one of the most 

 stupid animals on earth. In fact, there is little 

 doubt that this stupidity has been one of the causes 

 of its destruction ; for, as Captain Dodge said of 

 it, "if not alarmed at sight or smell of a foe, he 

 will stand stupidly gazing at his companions in 

 their death throes, until the whole herd is shot 

 down," and, " having made up his mind to go a 

 certain way, it is almost impossible to swerve him 

 from his purpose." And the last difference 

 between the species that we propose to mention 



