(J4 MR. ^. N. BUXTON OJT THE EUROPEAN BISON. [Feb. 7, 



Eebruary 7th, 1899. 



Prof. G-. B. Howes, LL.D., F.R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair, 



The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the 

 Society's Menagerie during the month of January 1899 : — 



The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the 

 month of January were 71 in number. Of these 22 were acquired 

 by presentation, 26 by purchase, 2 in exchange, 6 were born in 

 the Gardens, and 15 were received on deposit. The total number 

 of departures during the same period, by death and removals, 

 was 96. 



Amongst the additions attention may be called to the fine 

 young male of the Ai'gali Sheep (Ovis ammoii) (Plate VIII.), re- 

 ceived on deposit on January 18th, believed to be the first example 

 of this species that has reached England. The Council hope to 

 be able to acquire this animal, if it continues to do well, for the 

 Society's collection. The animal at the px'esent time stands about 

 29 inches high at the shoulders. 



A communication was read from Mr. E. N. Buxton, E.Z.S., 

 giving an account of a recent visit which he had made to the 

 Forest of Bielovege in Lithuania, in order to see the Bisons 

 (^Bison europceus) in the Emperor of Eussia's forest, where he was 

 successful in approaching near enough to a part of the herd to 

 obtain some photographs of these animals, which Avere exhibited to 

 the Meeting. 



Mr. Buxton was hospitably received by Col. Kolokalzoff, who 

 is responsible for the forest, and by G-eneral Popoff , the Guardian 

 of the Emperor's palace bv whom he was housed in the building 

 in which the Imperial guests are entertained. He described his 

 journey through the forest as follows : — 



" In the company of Mr, Neverli, the chief forester, I drove 

 through many miles of the forest on the following day. It 

 occupies a country which is almost dead flat, but is intersected by a 

 few sluggish streams. With the exception of the meadows which 

 border the latter, and a few clearances for cultivation round small 

 villages, there are no open spaces : consequently, although the 

 timber, which consists mainly of oak, elm, birch, spruce, and fir, 

 is very fine, the forest is tame and wanting in variety. This 

 monotony is enhanced by the unfortunate practice of removing all 

 windfalls, a most short-sighted policy, as I think, because nothing 

 so assists the warmth, shelter, and sense of security of a forest, 

 for wild animals, as fallen timber, through the branches of which 

 a tangle of wild growth quickly penetrates and forms a natural 

 screen. The artificial eff'ect is further increased by an immense 

 extent of grass rides, which are cut in perfectly straight lines, at 

 right angles to one another, dividing the forest into squares of 



