ILLUSTRATIONS. 7i 



ing to the differences of climate, of food, and of treatment, have undergone the 

 various changes above described." (vol. G. p. 188.) Pennant is equally decided 

 " The bison and aurochs of Europe is certainly the same species with the ameri- 

 ran ox. The difference consists in the former being less shaggy, and the hair 

 being neither so soft nor so woolly nor the hind parts so weak. Both european 

 and american kinds, scent of musk. In ancient times they were found in different 

 parts of the old world, outwent under different names : the bonasus of Aristotle, 

 the urus of Caesar, the bos ferus of Strabo, the bison of Pliny, and the biston of 

 Oppian, so called from its being found among the bistones, a people of Thrace. 

 According to these authorities, it was found in their days in Media, and in Paeonia, 

 a province of Macedonia ; among the Alps, and in the great Hercynian forest, 

 which extended from Germany even into Sarmatia. In latter days a white spe- 

 cies was a native of the Scottish mountains ; it is now extinct in its savage state; 

 but the offspring, sufficiently wild, is still to be seen in the parks of Druinlanrig, 

 in Scotland, and of Chillingham castle, in Northumberland. 



In these times it is found in very few places in a state of nature : it is, as far as 

 we know, an inhabitant, at present only of the forests of Lithuania among the 

 Carpathian mountains within the extent of the great Hercynian wood, its ancient 

 haunts, and in Asia, among the vast mountains of Caucasus. Arctic Zoology, 

 vol. 3. 



Accdrding to these opinions, the Linnsean name of our buffalo, or american 

 wild ox, is bos bison, or bos bonasus j and that of the indian buffalo, is bos buba- 

 lus. The latter originated in Egypt and India, and is very numerous in all the 

 warm climates of the old world ; especially in marshy countries, and in the neigh- 

 bourhood of rivers. Water and a moist soil seems to be still more necessary to 

 them than the warmth of climate. It was transported and naturalized in Italy 

 about the end of the seventh century, and is now in France. It is used for draw- 

 ing, and is directed and restrained by means of a ring passed through its nose. 

 Two buffaloes yoked, or rather chained, to a carriage, draw as much as four 

 strong horses, as they carry their neck and head low, and the whole weight of 

 their body is employed in drawing, and their mass much surpasses that of a 

 labouring horse. They are used for ploughing throughout Italy, are hideous 

 animals, with very coarse black hair, and have a singular swinging motion oftho 

 head, in walking. The milk is not so good as that of the common cow, but i^ 

 much more plentiful. A kind of cheese is made of it called firmaggio di cavallo, 

 or horse cheese, but nevertheless very good. Its flesh is not so good, but it 

 is larger and stronger than the common ox. Buffbn, vol. G. Smith's Sketch of a 

 Tour, tie. vol. 2. The bos bubalus is an entire distinct species from the amen 

 can buffalo ; the period of its gestation is twelve months; whereas that of th^ 

 american bison and domestic m i? nine. It rill have no connexion with them ; 



