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 becomes 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 contained thirty-seven bison, all in fine condition. European Bison.—In a corral adjoining the Buffalo Entrance, on the Boston Road, are to be found two specimens of the rare and almost extinct European Bison, (_Bos bonasus_). 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 acquired 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. Norman 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 appears, however, that an increase can safely be announced. An estimate recently published (1906) places the total number of wild and semi-wild individuals at 1,400, while in the captive herds of the Czar and the Prince of Pless there are 46 more. About 700 of the survivors inhabit the forests of Bielowitza and Swisslotsch, Lithuania, west Russia, and are strictly protected by the Czar. Other bands still exist on the northern slope of the Caucasus Mountains around the sources of the Laba and Bjellaja, sometimes ranging up to an elevation of 8,000 feet. Wherever found, they live in scattered bands of from three to ten individuals. All the survivors of this species are so jealously guarded that very few of the zoological gardens of Europe have been able to procure specimens.