BOVID^E. CXCVII. 339 



Largest of our Cervidce and one of the noblest of animals, reaching 

 the size of a horse. Maine and N. B. to Wash, and N.; becoming 

 rare; close to the European Elk, A. alces (L.). 



591. RANGIFER Hamilton Smith. (Old name.) 



1122. R. caribou (Gmelin). AMERICAN REINDEER. WOOD- 

 LAND CARIBOU. Brownish, grayer in winter. N. S. to L. Su- 

 perior and N. The Barren Ground Caribou, subspec. arcticus (Rich- 

 ardson), is smaller and confined to the treeless Ai'ctic regions. The 

 species is allied to the European Reindeer, R. tarandus (L.). 

 (Caribou, the French name.) 



FAMILY CXCVI. ANTILOCAPRID^. (THE PRONG-BUCKS.) 

 This group contains a single species, intermediate between the 

 Cervidce and the Bovidce. With the general characters of the 

 latter, its horns are deciduous and branched, as in the deer. Horns 

 erect, compressed at base with a short branch or flattened process 

 in front, the end conical, recurved ; nose hairy at tip except along 

 median line ; tail very short ; no false hoofs. One species, a singu- 

 lar, antelope-like animal of the Rocky Mountain region. 



592. ANTILOCAPRA Ord. (Antilope + Capra.) 



1123. A. americana (Ord). PRONG-HORN. CABREE. ROCKY 

 MOUNTAIN " ANTELOPE." Yellowish brown, marked with brown 

 and white. L. about 5 feet. T. 7 inches. Height 3 feet. Dak. 

 to Tex. and W., formerly very abundant. 



FAMILY CXCVII. BOVIDCE. (THE CATTLE.) 



Ruminants with the horns, if present, simple, hollow, permanent, 

 each enclosing a process of the frontal bone. Teeth i. -|; c. $; 

 m *f-t = **2. Genera about 45 ; species 100 or more, in habiting warm 

 regions, and most abundant in the Old World. The ox (Bos iau- 

 rus L.), the sheep (Ovis aries), and the goat (Capra hircus) are 

 familiar members of the family. The Bighorn, Ovis canadensis 

 Shaw, occurs to the westward of our limits, as also the Rocky 

 Mountain Goat, Oreamnos montanus (Ord). 



a. Nose naked at tip and very broad; horns curved, the base directed out- 

 wards; hoofs broad; tail long; forehead broader than long. (Bovince.) 

 b. Body highest at shoulders ; anterior parts with a long, shaggy mane. 



BISON, 593. 



593. BISON Hamilton Smith. (Lat., a wild ox or buffalo.) 



1124. B. bison (L.). BUFFALO. BISON. Brown; the snout, 

 hoofs, horns, etc., black. U. S. generally ; formerly very abundant, 

 but now extinct, except a small herd in the Yellowstone region. 



