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36 



THE AMERICAN EISOITS. 



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longer and thicker horn-cores. In respect to the American formSj three 



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stages are represented^ each later form being not only smaller than the pre- 

 ceding, but the reduction in the size of the horn-core is relatively greater 



than that of general size. 



The types here recognized as distinct forms under the names B, piscits 



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and B. antiqims^ it should be remarked, differ but slightly from each other, — 

 not more so, probably, than do B. honasus and B, americaniiSy if indeed so 

 much, — - and constitute as it were a common circumpolar form from which 

 B. honasits and B. americanus have probably been differentiated. It seems 

 to me that the B. americanus is really the most differentiated form, B, honasus^ 

 in its more massive frame and rather larger horns, more strongly recalling 

 the preceding links {Bison antiqims and J3. priseus) in the chain. It was also 



recently the form apparently farthest from extinction. For centuries 

 the B. honasus has had but a few hundred survivors, while its total extermi- 

 nation has been prevented only through royal protection ; the B, americanus^ 

 on the other hand, still has millions of representatives, and a few decades ago 

 swarmed in immense herds over nearly a third of the North American conti- 

 nent 



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6. 



DeSCEIPTIOS" of the ExISTKG SrECIES. 



BISON 



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CANUS (Gmelin) Smith 



American Bison or Buffalo. 



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Bos americanus Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I, 204, 1788. — Desmarest, Nouv. Diet Ilist. Nat, III, 531, 1816 ; 

 Mammalogie, 496, pi. xliv, 1820. — Harlan, Fauna Amer., 268, 1825. — Godman, Amcr. Nat Hist, 

 HI, 4, 1826.~D£8MOULiN, Diet Class. Hist Nat., II, 365, 1822.— Richardson, Fauna Bor. Amer., 

 I, 279, 1829. — Fischer, Synop. Mam., 495, 653, 1829. — Cooper, Month. Am. Journ. Geol. & Nat 

 Hist, 1831, 44, 174, 207 (remains at Big-bone Lick, Ky.) ; Amer. Jom^n. Sci., XX, 371, 1831; Edinb. 

 New riiil. Journ., XI, 353, 1 831.— Doughty, Cab. Nat Hist, II, 1G9, pi. xiv, 1832. — Sabine, Frank- 

 lin's Journey, 668, 1833. — Wagner, Sehrebcr's Saugt., V, 472, 1855. — Giebel, Saugt, 271, 1855. 

 Bairo, Mam. N. Amer., 682, 1857 ; U. S. & Mex. Bound. Survey, Ft H, 52, 1859, —Newberry, 

 Paeif. K. K. Expl. & Surveys, YI, iv, 72, 1857. — Suckley & Gxbbs, Ibid., XII, ii, 138, 1860. — 

 Xantus, Zool. Garten, 1, 109. — Allen, Froe.Bost Soe. Nat Hist., XIII, 186, 1869; XVII, 39, 1874. 



Bison americanus Catesby, Nat Hist Carolina, II, App., 20, xxviii, 1 754. — Brisson, Reg. Anim., 

 Quad., 1756. — Smith, Griffiths Cuv., V, 374, 1827. — De Kay, Nat. Hist New York Zool., Pt I, 

 110, 1842.— SuNDEVALL, Kong. Sv. Yet Akad. Handl. for 1844, 203, 184G. — Gray, Knowsley's 

 Menag., 49, 1850; Cat. Mam Brit Mus., Pt III, 39, 1852 ; Hand-List of Edentate, Thick-Skinned, 

 & Iluminant Mam., 85, 187^3. — Geurard, Cat Bones of Mam. Brit Mus., 230, 1862. — Turner, 



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