172 THE BUFFALO, &c, 



meftic bull. The aurochs, like every other a- 

 nimal that enjoys liberty, is only larger and 

 ftronger. The aurochs is ftill found in fome 

 northern provinces: The young aurochs have 

 fometimes been carried off from their mothers, 

 and, after being reared to maturity, they pro- 

 duced with our domeflic bulls and cows *. 

 Hence thefe animals muft unqueftionably be- 

 long to the fame fpecies. 



8. Laftly, the bifon differs from the aurochs 

 by accidental 'varieties only; and, confequently, 

 it is, as iv ell as the aurochs, of the fame fpecies 

 "with the domeflic ox. The bunch, the length 

 and quality of the hair, and the figure of the 

 horns, are the fole characters by which the bi- 

 fon can be diftinguifhed from the aurochs. But 

 we have feen the bunched oxen produce with 

 the common domeflic kind; we like wife know, 

 that the length and quality of the hair, in all 

 animals, depend on the nature of the climate; 

 and, we have remarked, that, in the ox, iheep, 

 and goat, the form of the horns is various and 

 fluctuating. Thefe differences, therefore, are 

 by no means fufficient to conftitute two diftincl: 

 fpecies: And, fince our domeflic cattle produce 

 with the bunched Indian oxen, they would like- 

 wife undoubtedly produce with the bifon or 

 bunched ox of Europe. Among the aim oft in- 

 numerable varieties of thefe animals in different 



climates, 



• 



* Epift, ant. Schmebergenis, ad Gefnerum, Hift. quad, 

 p. 141. 



