FAUNA AMERICANA. 271 



Fossil Ox. 



Species. 



1. Bos bombifrons, (Nobis.) 



This species has not heretofore been intro- 

 duced into the systems, nor even noticed by sys- 

 tematic writers. It was first described from a 

 fossil skull, presented to the American Philo- 

 sophical Society, by Mr. T. Jefferson. The de- 

 scription was drawn up by the late Caspar Wistar, 

 M. D. and published in the transactions of the 

 society. (Vol. 1st, New Series, p. 379. pi. xi. 

 fig. 10 and 11.) 



Character. Top of tlie head, between the 

 horns, strongly arched and projecting; facial line 

 forming rather an acute angle, with the occipital 

 surface; horns first project laterally from the 

 sides of the head, then curve downwards, they 

 are placed on the skull at a considerable distance 

 anterior to the union of the facial and occipital 

 surfaces. 



Descrh'tign. Part of the nose and face of this 

 skull are destroyed, as well as the jaws and teeth; 

 in size and general form it approaches nearest to 

 the skull of the Bos americamis, but differs in the 

 following particulars. The space on the top of the 

 head between the horns, is nearly straight in the 

 Bison, whereas it is prominently arched in the 

 fossil ; in the Bison, the horns project from the 

 sides of the head near the union formed bv the 



