218 Imposture entitled a Pygmy Bison. 



the same effect being produced several times at the same place ; 

 and that this particular species is always killed by being sud- 

 denly brought in contact with fresh water, is corroborated by 

 my having seen the same effect produced in another place. In 

 the upper part of the harbour of Portsmouth, Hants, at a 

 place called Fleethouse, is a fine spring of pure water, situated 

 below the high-water mark ; it is consequently covered by the 

 sea every tide, at the receding of which, as the spring discharges 

 copiously it is speedily fit for use, and is resorted to by all the 

 neighbourhood. I have frequently seen this species of Cottus 

 lying dead in numbers round the spring ; they had evidently 

 advanced with the tide, and been killed by coming in contact 

 with the fresh water flowing from the spring, the falling of the 

 tide leaving them beside it. 



John Henry Davies. 

 PortsmbutJi^ May, 1829. 



Art. II. Notice of an Imposture entitled a Pygmy Bison^ or 

 American Ox. By V. 



Sir, 

 As it is the duty of every naturalist to guard the public 

 against impositions such as those exposed in your Magazine 

 under the heads Mermaid (Vol. I. p. 106.), and Zoological 

 Imposture (Vol. I. p. 189.), I have to bring under your no- 

 tice another of a somewhat different description, which, from 

 the uncommon ingenuity with which it is made up, is well 

 calculated to deceive those little conversant with Nature. I 

 allude to the specimen of a Pygmy Bison (Jig, 53. a), said to 

 have belonged to Count Bournon, and at the time I saw it 

 in possession of a Mr. Murray, a dealer in curiosities, &c., from 

 Hastings, who valued it at forty guineas, as it was supposed 

 to be unique of its kind, being but about 7 or 8 in. high, and 

 every way proportionate and symmetrical, and at the same 

 time quite perfect in horns, coat, and every other part which 

 distinguishes the fully developed male Bison. Now, as the ani- 

 mal of which it is the representative is, when full grown and 

 equally perfect, of the stature of an ox, and even acquires such 

 a size as to weigh from 1600 to 2900 lbs. ; and, as it may be 

 presumed from analogy that the calf, or embryo, of the bison 

 has not any horns, mane, &c., there can be no doubt of the 

 imposture, which may, nevertheless, be fully worth the sum 

 demanded for it, as a most perfect model of the bison, and as 

 the summit of the art of deception. As I took some pains to 



I 



