RUMINANTIA. 221 



Cuvier denies tlieir identity. It is the largest qua- 

 druped of Europe. The broad hairy forehead, the 

 long and spreading horns, and the thick and bushy 

 mane and beard, give a formidable and lion-like 

 aspect to this animal. In these particulars it is 

 equalled by the Bison of North America, (B. Bison,} 



THE BISON (Bos Bison). 



the largest quadruped of that continent, whose 

 countless herds formerly reached from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific, but which is now almost confined to 

 the vast plains west of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 other American species is the Musk Ox, (B. Mos- 

 chatus,) inhabiting the dreary shores of the Polar 

 Sea, which approaches the Sheep in some of its cha- 

 racters. Its appearance is remarkable, from its hair, 

 which is very thick and woolly, reaching to the 

 ground. The musky odour common to all the race, 

 is in this species peculiarly strong. 



The Yak, or Grunting Ox, (B. Grunniens,) is a 



