1893.] ox THE RAXGE OF THE EUUOPEAN BISOX. 175 



2. On the present Range of the European Bison in the 

 Caucasus. By Dr. G. Radde^ C.M.Z.S. 



[Eeceived January 2, 1893.] 



I have just received correct information as to the range of the 

 European Bison (Bos bonams) in the Caucasus. This auiinal is at 

 present confined to the district around the sources of the Laba and 

 Bjellaja on the north side of the Caucasus, and extends east- 

 wards from the former locality to the springs of the Seleutschiik. 

 The Bison is scarce everywhere, and generally seen in twos and 

 threes ; only once have the tracks of seven together been noticed, 

 though occasionally as many as five have been observed. Evidently 

 the Bison has discontinued its settled habits, and has taken to wan- 

 dering about in this, its last refuge. Through the ever increasing 

 encroachmeuts of the settlers, and the consequent dispersal of the 

 wild animals, and also, in many places, owing to the new sujjervision 

 of the forests, the Bison is driven more and more towards the 

 higher ridges of the mountains, and wanders about in the thick 

 forests which border the lower portion of the alpine pasturages. 



These forests in the lower lying districts are chiefly composed 

 of Carpinus hetuhis and Faijvs, above which stand lofty Abies 

 norchiianniana and A. orientalis ; the pine is less plentiful. 



The most likely places to find this animal are at present near 

 the sources of the Little Laba, and especially on its western con- 

 fluent, the Uruschtem. This river is joined by a small stream, 

 the Alaus, in the Aalley of which the Bison is often met with. 

 It is found from 7000 to 8000 feet above the sea-level. Formerlv, 

 30 or 40 years ago, it was met with much lower down, about 5000 

 feet, and it was also more common. That the Bison has now 

 passed over the mountain-range aud is wandering southwards is 

 pretty certain. There was an instance of this in 1874 : in that 

 year an example was killed not far from Eomanowskoje, about a 

 day's journey from Sotschi (on the coast) ; the skin of this animal 

 was sold in Kutais. 



Just as the Bison is preserved in the forests of the Government 

 of Grodno\ so it is under Imperial protection in the Caucasus : 

 the Grand-Duke Michael ]^ikolajawitsch gave the necessarv 

 orders in 1860. Nevertheless it is very difficult to keep guard 

 over these last remaining animals satisfactorily. The whole dis- 

 trict in which this animal occurs, and where, in the high moun- 

 tains, the Chamois and Capra caucasica abound, has been for 

 several years rented by the young Grand-Dukes George and 

 Sergius Michaelowitsch : it comprises an area of 477,300 des- 

 jatines^. In the Staniza of Psebai lives Herr Noska, who performs 

 the functions of Head -keeper. But the task of watching for 



^ SeeP.Z. S. 1848, p. 16. 



acres, rds. poles. 

 ^ A desjatii e (Russian mpasure) =2 2 32 



