NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



17 



EDROPEA^^ BISO^f. 



United States Government a herd of fifteen buffaloes, to 

 serve as a nucleus for an independent national herd. The 

 Government is at this date fencing 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 will be consummated during 1907. The number of 

 births in our Park Buffalo herd has rendered this gift pos- 

 sible. 



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 Jlr. Nor- 

 man James, of Baltimore, Mr. Charles Sheldon and Dr. 

 Leonard J. Sanford. 



