B I R 



464 



B I 



pearanea to its having been much weathered. Ly*H states 

 that the bone of the bison have been found at North Cliff, 

 in the county of York, in a lacustrine formation, in which 

 all the land and fresh-water shells, thirteen in number, can 

 be identified with species and varieties now existing in that 

 county. [See Ox.] 



AMERICAN BISON. 



We have seen that the European Bison has fourteen 

 pairs of ribs, while the common ox has but thirteen ; the 

 specific difference of the American Biton is marked by its 

 having fifteen ribs on each side. Thus, in the Bisons, the 

 supplementary ribs spring from the anterior lumbar verte- 

 bra, or rather from vertebras which are lumbar as far as 

 regards their situation, but dorsal when considered in rela- 

 tion to their functions. The contour of the skull has much 

 in common with that of the European species, but its de- 

 velopment, and indeed that of the wnole frame, is much in- 

 ferior in the female. Beneath is represented the skull of a 

 young female American Bison, 



[Skull of >oung fcnate American Bison. Front view.] 



and we shall at once M-V how tame and weak its chiselling 

 is when compared with that of the old male. 



[Proltlr of th umaj 



The American Bison has many poinU of similarity with 

 the Aurochs. In both we have the huge head, and the 

 lengthened spinous processes of the dorsal vertebra for the 

 attachment of the brawny muscles that support and wield 

 it. In both we have the conical hump between the shoul- 

 ders in consequence, and the shaggy mane in all seasons ; 

 and each presents a model of brute force, formed to push 

 and throw down. 



[ Uiton American!!'. Pcmalei. A bull in tlie diiunev. 



;4ku11 of vM mil* Amnku Binn. final tic*.] 



[Iliwn Anmiruui. A liull.' 



