AMERICAN BISON 435 
SS 
American Bison and Wapiti in the Park at Woburn Abbey. 
From a Photograph by the Duchess of Bedford. 
The AMERICAN BISON (Bos [Bison] bison). 
Some of the points distinguishing this species from the European 
bison have been mentioned under the head of the latter, but it may be 
added that in the typical race of the former the horns are shorter, 
thicker, blunter, and more sharply curved. In the skull of the American 
animal the sockets of the eyes have a more tubular form. Height at 
shoulder about 5 feet 9 inches; weight from 15 to 20 cwt.; an adult 
bull weighed by W. T. Hornaday scaled 2100 Ibs. 
Distribution The greater portion of Western North America, ascend- 
ing to the Great Slave Lake, and descending to New Mexico and 
Texas ; now nearly exterminated. American writers recognise two 
races—the prairie-bison (B. dzson typicus), and the larger wood-bison 
(B. bison athabasce) of the forest highlands of the North-West. 
Length Gace Tip t Widest 
on outside ton Dente, inside Locality. Owner. 
Rote ference. Tip. ae 
curve. spread. 
203 15 NE 303 Wyoming . : - Hon. F. Thellusson. 
—20} 162 333 re ? W. H. Root. 
—194 ah 284 ae ? Ph. Oberlander. 
-19 12} he ts W. Montana... . P. Liebinger. 
~ Owner’s measurements. 
