18 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



The distinguishing characters of this species are shorter 

 and less abundant hair on the head, neck and shoulders 

 than our bison, a tail densely covered with hair throughout 

 its length, very long legs, and a short body. 



But for royal protection, this species would long ere this 

 have become extinct. In the year 1857, about 1,898 head 

 were living, but in 1892 the total had decreased to 491. It 

 appears, however, that an increase can safely be announced. 

 An estimate recently published (1906) places the total 

 number of wild and semi-wild individuals at 1.400, while 

 in the captive herds of the Czar and the Prince of Pless 

 there are 46 more. About 700 of the survivors inhabit the 

 forests of Bielowitza and Swisslotsch, Lithuania, west Rus- 

 sia, and are strictly protected by the Czar. Other bands 

 still exist on the northern slope of the Caucasus Mountains 

 around the sources of the Laba and Bjellaja, sometimes 

 ranging up to an elevation of 8.000 feet. Wherever found, 

 they live in scattered bands of from three to ten indi- 

 viduals. All the survivors of this species are so jealously 

 guarded that very few of the zoological gardens of Europe 

 have been able to procure specimens. 



This animal is very often miscalled the "aurochs." and 

 from this error much confusion has arisen. The true aur- 

 ochs. (Bos primigenius}, was the wild progenitor of some 

 of the existing breeds of domestic cattle, but it is now 

 extinct. 



MOUNTAIN SHEEP HILL, No. 44. 



The wild sheep and goats of the world form an exceed- 

 ingly interesting group of animals. In form they are odd 

 and picturesque, and in temper and mentality they are 

 everything that could be desired. All the year round, deer 

 are either nervous or dangerous, and difficult to handle. 

 Wild sheep, goats and ibex appreciate man's interest in 

 them, and even when not fond of attention, they act sen- 

 sibly when it is necessary to handle them. 



The Zoological Park collection of wild sheep and goats is 

 one of the most interesting features of the Park. Mountain 

 Sheep Hill is the first high ridge west of the Rocking Stone, 

 and its northern end is very near the Bear Dens and Reptile 

 House. It consists of a ridge of pink granite 500 feet long 

 and 25 feet high, its southern end fully exposed, but the 



