INTRODUCTION, 



Fossil remains of the ox tribo Lave been frequoutly discovered in tlie United 

 States, of which descriptions, scattered through various works, have been given; 

 but no approach to a correct view has been obtained of the number and character 

 of the extinct species. The author, having the best opportunity of inspecting most 

 of the specimens which have been described, has availed himself of it to "-ive in 

 this Memoir as clear a history of the animals as the remains would justify. In 

 this endeavor, he has been very much assisted by the examination of additional 

 specimens, in the cabinets of the American Philosophical Society and Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia ; and others, loaned with the utmost liberality by 

 the Boston Natural History Society; Prof Samuel St. John, of Hudson, Ohio; Mr. 

 J. W. Foster, and Mr. Thomas Kite, of Cincinnati; to all of whom he now ex- 

 presses his sincere thanks. 



The ox tribe is surpassed by no other in economical importance to man, and 

 it is also one of peculiar interest to the naturalist and geologist. The existin"- 

 sjDecies are numerous, and are indigenous to all the continents excepting South 

 America and Australia. 



America, at the period of its discovery- by Europeans, possessed no indigenous 

 species of horse; although the New World presented such favorable conditions to 

 the existence of this animal, that, a few years after its introduction, it formed 

 large herds, now found in a wild state. This is a remarkable fact, especially as 

 recent researches have proved the former existence of at least two species in 

 North and South America. 



The non-existence of any species of ox indigenous to the latter continent is, 

 however, still more remarkable ; for, not only ai-e the conditions so favorable to its 

 development at the present time, that the Domestic Ox introduced by Europeans 

 exists in immense herds upon the extensive pampas in a wild state, but there are 

 also found two species indigenous to North America. Nor have any remains of 

 extinct species of ox been found in South America, while such have been discovered 

 in North America, indicating the former existence of three and probably four 



