16 



THE AMERICAN BISONS. 



latifrons. Its size, however, as given by Dr. Harlan,* shows it to have been 

 of about the size of or at least not larger than corresponding parts of Bison 

 antiquu8 from California. 



As already remarked, the horn-cores of Bkon latifrons have fully twice tbe 

 dimensions of the largest horn-cores of Bison jv'iscus of Europe, this dis- 

 crepancy at once indicating the two species to be animals possessing very 

 diverse characters. In the subjoined table is given in a single comparative 

 view the measurements of the skulls and cranial fragments of all tbe forme 

 of fossil bisons thus far described, which in the present paper are referred to 

 three species, namely, Bison antiquus, Bison prisons, and Bison latifrons. The 

 first-named is the smallest, with relatively small, short, much curved, and 

 abruptly conoidal horns ; the second is but little larger, apparently, in 

 general size, but has somewhat longer, less curved, slenderer, and more 

 gradually tapering horns; the third is apparently considerably larger even 

 than the second, with immensely greater horn-cores, which when covered 

 by the horns must have had a spread at the tip of between ten and twelve 

 feet. 



TABLE III. 



Measurements of Skills of Extinct Bisons. 



Explanation of Table III. 



l /: on antiquus Lcidy. Big-bone Lick specimen. 

 2. Bison antiquus. Specimen from California described by l>r. Leidy. 

 I I ilifornia. Measurements communicated by Dr. J. G. Cooper. 



4 /• Meyer. Specimen from Bjenrjonlm, Si mia M laurementa from Nilason, aa quoted 



by Dr, fiichardton, 



- \i,,.T. Jotrra s, i. v.,1. XI. Ill, p. 1 18, 1849. 



