ZOOLOGICAL SOCIKT^ BUF.f.KTIN 



171 



bands that still exist on the northern slope of the Caucasus 

 Mountains, the only liN-ing European Bison, outside of 

 zoologirnl gardens and private parks, are those that inhabit 

 the forests of Bielowitza and Swisslotsih, in West Russia. 

 In 1857, about 1,898 head were living, but in 1892 the total 

 had decreased to 491. Wherever found, they live in 

 scattered bands of from three to ten indi\i(luals. 



Late in 1903, by means of a postal card, the Prince of 

 Pless offered to sell to the New York Zoological Society a 

 pair of bi.son from the small herd inhabiting his forest 

 in Silesia, the e.Ntreme southeastern corner of Germany. 

 Through the kindness of Mr. Norman James, of Baltimore, 

 Mr. Charles Sheldon, of New York, and Dr. Leonard C. 

 Sanford, of New Haven, they were immediately purchased, 

 .^fter a long and severe journey, the animals arrived on 

 April 15, very thin and weak, and much bruised on the 

 liind((Uarters. They were immediately liberated in a very 



haired than in our bison. The European Bison never ex- 

 hibits the lu.NUriant and picturesque frontlet and mane 

 that form so conspicuous a character of the American 

 species. 



So far as we know, the specimens now in the New York 

 Zoological Park are the first to arrive in America; and the 

 acquisition of good examples of a species so rare and 

 dillicult to represent may fairly be accounted a stroke of 

 good fortune. 



AN 



ANINLAL FROM THE 

 THE WORLD.' 



ROOF OF 



When adult and in its prime, the Markhor is the largest 

 and handsomest of all the wikl goals. Its home is literally 

 on "the roof of the world," in the Himalavas of Kashmir, 



comfortable corral that had been specially prepared for 

 them at the Buffalo Entrance, and tended with the greatest 

 care. 



Ever since their arrival, their condition has steadily im- 

 proved, and by autumn they should be in fine condition. 

 The dense new coat of slaty-gray hair that is now rapidly 

 re])lacing the old pelage indicates a satisfactory degree of 

 vitality. .•Ks nearly as can be judged, both specimens are 

 about live years old. 



The differences between these animals and the .■\merican 

 Bison exhibited beside them are noticeable at a glance. 

 The legs are very long, and the body is very short, giving 

 the European Bison the appearance of being much taller 

 than our species. The hair on the head, neck and fore- 

 quarters is shorter, but the tail is longer, and more heavily 



.\fghanislan and iiorlhwcslern India. Judging from the 

 accounts of the very few Englishmen who have successfully 

 hunted Markhor, and afterward written about them, their 

 pursuit is frequently the most dangert>us and unfruitful 

 of all mountaineering for sport. It is a common occurrence 

 for the quarry to fall hundreds of feet, and become so 

 badly mutilated as to be entirely worthless. The greater 

 part of the home range of this animal is |>ractically inac- 

 cessible to sportsmen, hence the rarity of the Markhor, 

 even in museums. 



The .^stor Markhor, of nt)rlhwestern Kashmir, is re- 

 markable for the long and wide backward sweep of its 

 horns, and the 12-inch-long mane beneath its neck. The 

 Suleman straight-horned Markhor (Capra jalconeri 

 jerdoni), from the Suleman Mountains of northwestern 



