AMERICAN BISON 



435 



Skull and Horns of American Bison. 



AMERICAN BISON (Bos [Bison] bison). 



Some of the points distinguishing this species from the European 

 bison have been mentioned under the head of the latter, but it may be 

 added that in the typical race of the former the horns are shorter, 

 thicker, blunter, and more sharply curved. In the skull of the American 

 animal the sockets of the eyes have a more tubular form. Height at 

 shoulder about 5 feet 9 inches ; weight from i 5 to 20 cwt. ; an adult 

 bull weighed by W. T. Hornaday scaled 2 1 oo Ibs. 

 Distribution. The greater portion of Western North America, ascend- 

 ing to the Great Slave Lake, and descending to New Mexico and 

 Texas ; now nearly exterminated. American writers recognise two 

 races, the prairie-bison (B. bison typicus) and the larger wood-bison 

 (B. bison athapascce) of the forest highlands of the North- West. 



, 



on outside 



curve. 



20 

 -20J 

 -19 



-184 

 -18 

 173 



Circum- 

 f 



ference ' 



15 



15 

 14 



12 



Tip to 

 n .- 



1] P' 



spread. 



Locality. 



35 Northern Montana 

 outside 



30^ Wyoming . 



334 - ? 



W. Montana 

 25 ... Wyoming . 



Montana 



154 



- Owner's measurements. 



Owner. 



. W. F. Sheard. 



. Hon. F. Thellusson. 



W. H. Root. 

 . P. Liebinger. 

 . P. N. Graham. 

 . F. Sauter. 



H.R.H. the Duke of Saxe- 

 Coburg and Gotha. 



