AUROCHS HUNTING
By Major Algernon Heber Percy
The European bison, or aurochs, Bison Bonasus, which used to roam in large herds over Europe, is now exclusively confined to the forest of Biolvitskia, in Lithuania, where it is known by the name of zubr.[15]
It has long been protected and preserved here most strictly, and has been kept solely as a royal quarry, certainly from the time of the kings of Poland.
Its habits appear much to resemble those of the wood bison of America now almost extinct; for example it makes itself mud baths like the well-known buffalo wallows in the plains of North America. Heads of these magnificent animals being excessively rare, I give the dimensions of the bull and cow which I killed and have now set up:
| Bull | Cow | |
|---|---|---|
| Tip of horn to tip of horn | 18½ ins. | 6 ins. |
| Base of horn to tip round curve outside | 17½ ” | 15¼ ” |
| ””inside | 13½ ” | 10 ” |
| Circumference of horn at base | 10 ” | 8 ” |
| Across forehead | 13 ” | 10 ” |
In August 1879, by Lord Dufferin’s great kindness, I received permission from the then Emperor of Russia, Alexander II., to visit the forest of Biolvitskia to hunt aurochs, and was directed to call on the Minister of Domains in St. Petersburg for directions when and where to go. The Minister, M. Walouieff, was most civil and kind; indeed, I may say at once that I met nothing but the most extreme kindness and hospitality from all Russian gentlemen during my visit to their country.
Group of aurochs