28 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 
sheds its coat in spring, and does not regain full pelage 
until October or November. 
The bison breeds in confinement about as readily ‘as 
domestic cattle. In appearance, it is the most imposing of 
all bovine animals, and with two exceptions it is also the 
largest. In captivity its disposition is mild, though inclined 
to stubbornness. Occasionally, however, an old bull be- 
comes so vicious that it is necessary to seclude him from 
the herd, and treat him as a dangerous animal. 
With the exception of a very few individuals, our entire 
bison herd is the gift of the late William C. Whitney, 
and the increase therefrom. The total number of head on 
hand on June 1, 1911, was thirty-four. 
In 1906, the New York Zoological Society presented to the 
United States Government a herd of fifteen bison to 
serve as a nucleus for an independent National herd. The 
Government very promptly fenced an area of twelve square 
miles of fine grazing grounds in the Wichita Forest and 
Game Reserve, for the proper reception of the herd. The 
plan was consummated during 1907. The effort has proven 
completely successful, and on June 1, 1911, the herd con- 
tained 28 bison, all in fine condition. 
European Bison.—In a corral adjoining the Buffalo En- 
trance, on the Boston Road, are to be found two specimens 
of the rare and almost extinct European Bison, (Bos bona- 
sus). This species is the nearest living relative of the 
American bison, and the two specimens (male and female), 
now exhibited, came quite unexpectedly into the possession 
of the Zoological Society in April, 1904. They were ac- 
quired from the small captive herd in the forest of the 
Prince of Pless, in Silesia, south-eastern Germany, and are 
the first living specimens of the species to be exhibited in 
America. They were presented to the Society by Mr. Nor- 
man James, of Baltimore, Mr. Charles Sheldon and Dr. 
Leonard J. Sanford. 
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 
