keeper, who went to inspect their haunts, counted nine together. He told
me they stood before him for some time, gazing at him without seeming
at all frightened, and after a good three minutes’ standing they turned
round and walked slowly away.”
In 1887 a male and female bison, now mounted in the British Museum,
were killed by Mr. St. George Littledale in the Western Caucasus. In 1895
a third was shot by the Grand Duke Sergius Mikhailovitch, and a fourth by
General Schilder ; while Prince Demidoff’s personal experiences during
the same year are detailed in his work. In Bielowitza a pair were shot
by Major A. Heber Percy in 1879.
For the latest information with regard to the bison in the forest of
Bielowitza, naturalists are indebted to a valuable memoir by Dr. E.
Buchner, published in the Memoirs o f the St. Pe'tersbourg Academyjof SciencM
of which the following is a summary * - With regard to the early history of
the herd, there is unfortunately a dearth o f information, although since the
year 1832 an almost continuous count has been kept o f their numbers. It
is, however, certain that during the Pblish War o f i 8 i 2~the bison had a
bad time of it, although accounts differ as to the number of head that survived.
Thus, it is stated by Brincken that, at the close o f the war, the
number of bison was diminished to 300. This, however, may perhaps refer
only to foil-grown animals, since Baumersrod states that during hiiourney
through Lithuania in 18 13 there were 500 head o f all ages. On the other
hand, Sachmcki repeats the statement that between 18 15 and 18 17 the herd
numbered scarcely 300. Again, in 1820, Eichwald speaks of 350 as the
number of bison then living in the forest; and Dolmatoff at the same time
gives the total as^oo. There must, however, certainly be some error in
their accounts, for, in the official count made early in 18 2 1, the number
is given as fully 500.
Whatever may be the truth as to the exact number to which the herd
was reduced during the war, there is no doubt that after 18 13 it once
again enjoyed more prosperous times, and began rapidly to increase. As
early as the winter of 18 2 1 it »stated, for instance, that the number of
head of all ages totalled over 700 ; while in December 1828 Eichwald
estimated thefflftumber in Bielowitza at 696. In addition ta-;this, from
thirty to forty head were at the same time living in the forests of Count
Tyschkiewictz. In 1829 the number was set down at 7 1 1 , of which 663
were adult and 48 young animals ; and in the following year the herd was
variously estimated at from 700 to 772 head. Eichwald, who Is the
authority for the latter number, further states that during the first Polish
revolution of 18 3 1, the herd lost 1 1 5 head, thus reducing its number
to 657.
Some error seems, however, undoubtedly te exist with regard to this
number, since the first of the regular official counts, which took place in
1832, gives the total number of bison at that time as no less than 770, of
which 7 12 were adult, and the remainder young. Since that date till 1872,
with the omissijfji of certain years, the numbers are tabulated as follows,
viz.
1833
1 8 3 4
1835
1836
i 83#
1838
'839
1840
1841
1843
1844
1845
1849
r.8
Adult. Young. Total.
768
7 H ! s3 - 7 5 1 V 53 810
i p v 68 845
7 j§ p - 78- 858
■ 802 58 86d;
832 54 906
886 46 932
H|&2 ' 35 8 ll
«75 W 94$
71
'»15 109 984
7 V i t :V s:: ? 993
9-45 80 1025
1018 7 7 B
r i 56 108 1264
1254 - : i© â d ’.;;À 1354
r . i g j l S 170 1560