(_Bos [Bison] bonasus_)
Although the name bison indisputably belongs to the single species
of wild cattle now surviving in Europe, it came to be applied almost
exclusively to its American cousin, while the bison itself, till
comparatively few years ago, was generally known in this country as the
aurochs. The aurochs was, however, the ancient wild ox of Europe, the
ancestor of many of our domesticated cattle; and on its extermination,
which took place in Poland during the seventeenth century, its name
became transferred to the bison, or zubr as it is called in Russia and
Poland. Of late years, however, matters have been put right in this
respect, and the bison has once more come into its own.
The European bison, although lacking the enormous mass of long hair on
the head and fore-quarters which gives to the bulls of its American
cousin such a magnificent appearance, is a far better built animal than
the latter, as the hind-quarters do not fall away in the same manner.
The bulls are considerably larger than the cows, and it is in that sex
alone that the beard and throat-fringe, as well as the long hair on
the fore-quarters, attain their full development. In summer a short
and sleek coat is donned; the old winter coat falling off in spring in
large, blanket-like masses.
The bison, apart from a certain number which have been introduced
into private parks, now survives only in the forest of Bielowitza,
in Lithuanian Poland, now the Russian province of Grodno, and in the
Caucasus. In Bielowitza the bison exist in a partially protected
condition, and are regularly fed during winter; their number diminished
from nearly two thousand in 1857 to three hundred and seventy-five in
1892, and a few years previously had been just over a hundred less. At
the present time the herd, which forms an imperial preserve, appears
to be suffering from the effects of inbreeding, so that an abnormally
large number of the calves are males.
On the other hand, the bison of the Caucasus, which has been separated
as a distinct race under the name _Bos bonasus caucasicus_, exists in a
purely wild state, although very little information with regard to its
numbers, distribution, and habits is available. In former times bison,
as we know from historical evidence, as well as from rude although
often spirited sketches, believed to be the work of prehistoric man, on
the walls of caverns, as well as from their actual fossil remains, were
distributed over the greater part of Europe, including Spain.
[Illustration]
Here it should be mentioned that the European and the American species
are the only living kinds of wild cattle properly entitled to be
included under the name of bison; the so-called Indian and Burmese
bison belonging to a totally different group of the ox tribe.
European bison, which associate in large herds, are essentially forest
animals, although the forest they inhabit must be comparatively thin
and intersected with glades and meadows where the herd can graze. The
neighbourhood of water is also essential; and when muddy pools are
available, they are utilised for wallowing. In addition to taking these
mud-baths, bull bison in summer are fond of rolling in sandy or dusty
spots.
Leaves and grass form the greater portion of the food of the Bielowitza
herd in summer, one particular kind of grass, known as zubr-grass,
being a special favourite and communicating to the animals themselves
an aromatic odour. Young shoots, twigs, and bark, especially those
of the ash, are also largely eaten; and in obtaining bark the stems
of trees are frequently stripped as high as the animals can reach,
while numbers of saplings are trampled down. Except where they are
artificially fed, bison have to depend almost entirely upon buds,
twigs, bark, and patches of dry grass and bracken for sustenance; and
at this season the herds leave the damper parts of the forest to take
up their quarters in the driest situations they can find.
Although an adult bull bison is more than a match for any wolf that
ever existed, the Bielowitza herd is constantly harassed by the
attacks of wolves, bears, and lynxes, which kill many of the calves,
and probably also overpower weakly and half-starved cows in winter,
especially if the wolves hunt in packs.
Bison feed chiefly in the early mornings and evening, although they
may be seen abroad at all hours. During the breeding-season, in August
and September, fierce combats take place between rival bulls for the
mastery of the herds. When disturbed or alarmed, the herd breaks into
a quick trot, which soon develops into a heavy lumbering gallop; and
there is scarcely a finer sight in the world than a charging troop of
these magnificent beasts.