THE AMERICA N BISON 

 Bos Americanus. 



PLATE X. THE BISON. 



THE Bison is a native of this country, and but a few 

 3 r ears since existed in great quantities in most of our West- 

 ern and Southern States ; but are gradually receding before 

 the white population ; and the rifle, as in southern Africa, 

 has here also done its work. They still exist in the north, 

 and roam in countless herds over the prairies that are 

 watered by the Arkansas,, Platte, Missouri and the upper 

 branches of the Saskatchewan. They reach to latitude 63 

 and 64, and are always to be found in the vicinity of 

 the salt-licks, and in another direction extend to New Mex- 

 ico and California. The Bison is a fierce and treacherous 

 looking animal ; and all those which we have seen exhibited 

 under the title of Bonassus, had a most disgusting and sin 

 ister look. The head and fore quarter is large, appearing 

 more so by the thick coating of long shaggy hair, covering 

 the head and nape, and almost obscuring the small blood 

 shot-looking eye. The horns are small, tapering, and 

 acute, set far apart, and nearly straight. 



The color of the animal is a liver or umber-brown, and 

 its height at the shoulder is upwards of six feet. Twelve 

 or fourteen hundred pounds is a common weight in the fur 

 countries ; but they sometimes reach to more than two thou- 

 sand pounds. The hump is a mass of fat of various size, 

 according to circumstances, and is much esteemed by 

 epicures. The flesh is juicy and well-flavored. The skin, 

 from the fine wool, makes an excellent blanket when dress- 

 ed, and it is now sold throughout the States, and in many 



