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 April 1. 1913, was forty-two. 



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 April 1, 1913, the herd con- 

 tained thirty-seven 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 



