The Bison. 



141 



THE BISON. (Bos or Bison Bonasus.) 



THERE are two kinds of Bison ; one a native of Europe, 

 and the other of America. The European Bison, or 

 Bonasus, is as large as a bull or ox; maned about the 

 back and neck like a lion ; and his hair hanging down 

 under his chin, or nether jaw, like a large beard. The 

 fore parts of his body are thick and strong, but the 

 hinder parts are comparatively slender. He has a little 

 ridge along his face from his forehead down to his nose, 

 which is very hairy; his horns are large, very sharp, and 

 turning towards his back, like those of a wild goat. 

 The American Bison (B. Americanus), attains a size far 

 superior to that of the largest breeds of our common 

 >xen, and is met with throughout nearly the whole of 

 the uninhabited parts of North America, from Hudson's 

 lay to Louisiana and the frontiers of Mexico. Captains 

 jewis and Clarke, and Dr. James, bear frequent testi- 

 lony to the almost incredible numbers in which these 

 dmals assemble on the banks of the Missouri. " Such 

 /as their multitude," say the first-named travellers, 

 that, although the river, including an island over 



