272 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



occipital and facial surfaces, first in a lateral di- 

 rection, then curve npivards, tapering, rather 

 slender and pointed. In the fossil, the horns pro- 

 ject from the sides of the head, at a considerable 

 distance anterior to the union of the facial and 

 occipital surfaces, first laterally, then curve doivn- 

 wards-, which disposition of the horns distinguish 

 this fossil skull from all other skulls of this genus, 

 fossil or recent; the horns are thicker, less taper- 

 ing, and less pointed than those of the Bison. 

 The concavity which exists to a greater or less 

 extent in all animals of this genus, beneath, and 

 posterior to the base of the skull, is much more 

 extensive in the fossil than in the bison skull. 

 The occipital surface is less broad in the fossil 

 skull. From w hich it is shown, that in former 

 times a species of Bison inhabited this country, 

 differing essentially from the Bison of the present 

 day. 



In the collection of fossils presented by Major 

 Long, from Big-bone-lick, are the fossil teeth of 

 a species of Bos^ which most probably belonged 

 to the fossil animal now under consideration. On 

 comparing these teeth Avith those of the recent 

 bison, very little difference is observable, except- 

 ing that they are thicker at the crowns, and more 

 deepl}^ grooved on the sides, and altogether more 

 robust. 



Locality. From Big-bone-lick, near the falls 

 of Ohio. (State of Kentucky.) 



