53 
Michigan and Minnesota. They are readily kept, living on 
almost any kind of vegetable food, and are hardy and little 
liable to disease. Save in exceptional cases, and during the 
season of rutting, they are tractable and easily managed. 
The large buck in the collection had his antlers in the velvet 
when he was shipped to the Garden ; at this time the horn is 
soft and easily damaged. One horn was, unfortunately, 
broken, and has been reproduced each year successively in its 
damaged condition, consisting of a single fork about two feet 
long, while the other antler reaches its full development. 
THE BISON. 
The American Bison or Buffalo {Bison americanus') may 
be observed to very good advantage in the large pen adjoining 
the Elk. 
Of the geographical distribution of this species, past and 
present. Prof. J. A. Allen treats as follows in a “History of 
