290 On a fossil Ox from the Mississippi. 



the fact of its being an animal, allied in many particulars to 

 the musk ox, but at the same time specifically distinct. 



From the facts slated above, and the observations of others, 

 we are warranted in drawing the following conclusions. 



That there formerly existed within the actual limits of the 

 United States, four, and probably five species of the genus 

 Bos. Of these only one is at the present day, found in our 

 country in a living state. The B. americanus, or bison, for- 

 merly existing in great numbers in the States bordering on the 

 Atlantic,* is now driven to the boundless regions of the west, 

 and ere long will probably share the fate of the former com- 

 panions of his race. 



The second and third species have long since ceased to 

 exist. Their specific differences are not yet completely ascer- 

 tained ; but the animals seem to have been numerous, if one 

 may judge from the accounts of travellers, who speak of their 

 remains as occurring in great abundance. From the fact of 

 their having been found associated with remains of the mas- 

 todon and deer, it is presumed that they were co-existent with 

 those species. 



The fourth species is the B. moschatus. From the testi- 

 mony of travellers already cited, it has been shown that this 

 species formerly lived in the latitude of 40° and even lower. 

 It is now confined within the limits of the arctic circle. They 

 live in herds, feed on lichens, leaves of the willow, and are 

 fond of mountainous rocky regions. The horns of the male, 

 which are larger than those of the female, sometimes weigh 

 sixty pounds. This species has been recently separated by 

 Blainville, from the genus Bos. and forms the new genus 



* A new voyage to Carolina, &c. by John Law^son, London, 1709. 

 An account of East Florida, by John Bartram, London. No date. 



