OCR Text |
Show 1893.] ON THE RANGE OP M E EUROPEAN BISON. 175 2. On the present Range of the European Bison in the Caucasus. By Dr. Gr. R A D D E , C.M.Z.S. [Received January 2, 1893.] I have just received correct information as to the range of the European Bison (Bos bonasus) in the Caucasus. This animal is at present confined to the district around the sources of the Laba and Bjellaja on the north side of the Caucasus, and extends eastwards from the former locality to the springs of the Selentschiik. The Bison is scarce everywhere, and generally seeu in twos and threes ; only once have the tracks of seven together been noticed, though occasionally as many as five have been observed. Evidently the Bison has discontinued its settled habits, and has taken to wandering about in this, its last refuge. Through the ever increasing encroachments of the settlers, and the consequent dispersal of the wild animals, and also, in many places, owing to the new supervision of the forests, the Bison is driven more and more towards the higher ridges of the mountains, and wanders about in the thick forests which border the lower portion of the alpine pasturages. These forests in the lower lying districts are chiefly composed of Carpinus betulus and Fagus, above which stand lofty Abies nordmanniana and A. orientalis ; the pine is less plentiful. The most likely places to find this animal are at present near the sources of the Little Laba, and especially on its western confluent, the TTruschtem. This river is joined by a small stream, the Alaus, in the valley of which the Bison is often met with. It is found from 7000 to 8000 feet above the sea-level. Formerly, 30 or 40 years ago, it was met with much lower down, about 5000 feet, and it was also more common. That the Bison has now passed over the mountain-range aud is wandering southwards is pretty certain. There was an instance of this in 1874: in that year an example was killed not far from Romanowskoje, about a day's journey from Sotschi (on the coast); the skin of this animal was sold in Kutais. Just as the Bison is preserved in the forests of the Government of Grodno1, so it is under Imperial protection in the Caucasus : the Grand-Duke Michael Nikolajawitsch gave the necessary orders in 1860. Nevertheless it is very difficult to keep guard over these last remaining animals satisfactorily. The whole district in which this animal occurs, and where, in the high mountains, the Chamois and Capra caucasica abound, has been for several years rented by the young Grand-Dukes George and Sergius Michaelowitsch : it comprises an area of 477,300 des-jatines2. In the Staniza of Psebai lives Herr Noska, who performs the functions of Head deeper. But the task of watching for 1 See P. Z. S. 1848, p. 10. acres, rds. poles. 2 A desjatine (Russian measure) = 2 2 32 |