1 1 



THE AMERICAN BISONS. 



are given in the subjoined table differ from the atlases of domestic cattle 

 in the very much greater size of the articular cup, and in the form of the 

 pleurapophyses or " wings " of the atlas. 



TABLE I.* 

 Measurements of Atlases. 



Transverse axis of brim of articular cup 



Sterno-darsal " " " 



Transverse axis of post-articular surface 



( Ireatest transverse breadth of atlas ■ 



Greatest breadth sterno-dorsally of distal cud of atlas. 



Greatest length near the lateral edge of wing 



Length of centrum, mesial line of sternal aspect 



" " " " dorsal " 



133 137 



70 65 



136 126 



240 215 



* The measurements in this and all the following tables are given in millimetres. 



Explanation of Table I. 



1. Bison latifrons. Darien, Georgia. 



2. Bison " crassicornis." Eechscholtz Bay. (Measurements from Richardson.) 



3. Bison bonasus. Large adult male. (M. ('. Z. Xo. 165.) 



4. Bison americanus. Large old male. (M. C. Z. No. 10.) 



5. Bison "priscust" Eschscholtz Bay. (No. 24,576 of Richardson.) 



6. Bison americanus. Adult female. (M. C. Z. Xo. 105.) 



7. Old domestic bull. 



8. Domestic ox. (.Measurements from Richardson.) 



From the above table it will be seen that the Georgia specimen is the 

 largest of the series; that the atlas of l'>. "crassicornis" is next in size, while 

 thai of B. bonasus is third, though exceeding in some of its proportions either 

 of the above-named specimens; the latter differs more from them in its pro- 

 portions than does the atlas of the male /!. americattUB. This, though fourth 

 in size, corresponds quite nearly in form with the fossil specimens. The atlas 

 of /.'. bonasus has a considerably greater Bterno-dorsal thickness than either 

 of tlir others. The atlas of Richardson's - Bison priscus ?" it will lie noticed, 

 corresponds very nearly in size with that of the female of//, americanus, being 

 apparently a Huh smaUtr, while from Richardson's measurements and descrip- 

 tion it seems to differ hut slightly from it in form. All the parts referred 

 by Richardson to hi- " B. priseus f " excepl the skull (No. 24,589 of Richard- 

 son j and a horn-core I No. III.") of Richardson) correspond in size with similar 



p. ni- i. f Bison americanus, and seem no! to differ essentially in any point 



from them. 



