The European Bison. 37 



the Aurochs has but fourteen pairs of ribs, while 

 the American bison has fifteen pairs. 



The general colour of the European bison is a 

 light brown; but the hair of the mane, beard, 

 and legs, together with a stripe on the middle 

 of the back, is much darker, almost inclining to 

 black, while the long tuft of hair on the end of the 

 tail is black. The hair, especially on the back and 

 hind parts, is soft and woolly. The tongue is very 

 blue in colour. The animal has a strong musky smell, 

 which is very noticeable, but far from unpleasant ; 

 this is said to be strongest in the winter, and to be lost 

 by degrees when the animal is in confinement ; and, 

 finally, the hide is said to be double the thickness 

 of that of a domestic bull. The Aurochs at the 

 Zoo is a fine adult bull, and is certainly a magnifi- 

 cent animal, standing, as near as we can judge, 

 about 1 7 hands at the shoulder. It is to be seen 

 in the easternmost of the " Cattle sheds," next to 

 the shed in which the American bisons are kept 

 (in which latter, by the way, a bison calf was born 

 a few days since, a beautiful little animal, well 

 worth a visit) . As yet it prefers to remain in its 

 shed, not having fully recovered from the fatigues 

 and dangers of its journey ; indeed, though it has 

 been in its present quarters since Nov. 25, the poor 

 beast is still most woefully stiff and strained, the 

 result of being sent for a sea voyage of many days' 

 duration in a large case or crate, the bottom of 

 which was perfectly smooth, instead of being 

 furnished with cross-pieces fastened to the floor to 



