THE BUFFALO, &c. 17! 



and in Scotland. Hence they might pafs to A- 

 merica, or come from that country, as they are 

 animals common to both Continents. The on- 

 ly difference between the European and Ame- 

 rican bifons is, that the latter are fmaller. But 

 even this difference is a farther proof that they 

 belong to the fame fpecies ; for it was former- 

 ly remarked, that, in general, both the domeftic 

 and wild animals, which have fpontaneoufly 

 paffed, or been tranfported into America, have 

 uniformly diminifhed in fize. Befides, all the 

 characters, not excepting the bunch and the 

 long hair on the anterior parts of the body, are 

 the fame in the American and European bifons. 

 Hence thefe animals muft be regarded as not 

 only of the fame fpecies, but as proceeding from 

 the fame race *. 



7. The urusy or aurochs, is the fame animal 

 r with the common bull in its natural arid zvild 

 Jlate. This polition is evident from the ligure 

 of the aurochs, and its whole habit of body, 

 which are perfectly iimilar to thofe of our do- 

 meftic 



* Several perfons of note have reared fmall oxen and wild 

 cows, which are found in Carolina, and in ether countries 

 as far fouth as Penfylvania. Thefe fmall oxen are tamed ; 

 but they ft ill retain fo much of their natural ferocity, that 

 they pierce through every hedge which oppofes their paffage. 

 Their heads are fo flrong, that they overturn die pallifades of 

 their inclofures, to come at the cultivated fields, where they do 

 much mifchief; and, as foon as a paffage is opened, they are 

 followed by the whole flock of domeftic cattle. Thefe two 

 kinds couple together, and have given rife to an intermediate 

 kind ; Voyage de Picrrs Ka/m, p. 350. 



