22 THE AMERICAN BISONS. 



subject much attention — as synonymes of Bison lalifrons, on the supposition 

 that these remains, notwithstanding other important differences than that of 

 size existing between them and those of the large Bison lalifrons, merely repre- 

 sented the female of B. lalifrons. With the light afforded by additional re- 

 mains of both forms, a different view now seems tenable, namely, that to the 

 smaller species are referable not only the original fragment on which B. 

 antiquus was based, but also other remains from California and Alaska. 



Dr. Leidy's original description of the Big-bone Lick fragment is as 

 follows : — 



"The specimen is rather too small [a fragment] to determine positively 

 whether it is a distinct species or not from Bison lalifrons. It did not belong 

 to an aged individual, as the suture is still open between the frontal bone 

 and that portion of the parietal which forms the upper boundary of the 

 temporal fossa. It belonged to a species of Bison, as indicated by the ad- 

 vanced position of the horn-core, and resembles more the corresponding part 

 in the Bison prisms of Europe, as represented by Cuvier and others, than it 

 does that of Bison lalifrons. The horn-core is more abruptly conoidal, and 

 relatively more curved than in the latter. It is not improbable, however, 

 that the fragment may have belonged to the female of Bison lalifrons. The 

 only characteristic measurements to be obtained from it are as follows: — 



" Length of the fragment of horn-core, 10 inches [or 2.55 mm.]. 

 Circumference on a line with the basal margin interiorly, l t .'. inches [or UGH nun.]. 



" five inches from the basal margin superiorly 10 inches [or 25."> mm.]." 



In respect to the curvature of the horn-core this fragment bears a strong 

 resemblance to the corresponding part of Bison crossicornis of Richardson, and 

 also to specimens from California. So great is this resemblance that Dr. 

 Leidy at firs! referred the California form to his Bison antiquus, and the speci- 

 men he described (now in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia) is still thus labelled. 



Dr. Leidy described the California specimen as approaching " sufficiently 

 near in size and form to the corresponding fragment of a skull from Big- 

 bone Lick. Kentucky, referred to Bison antiquus, thai it might be regarded as 

 of the same species. Both probably belong," Dr. Leidy, however, add-. -to 

 the female of Bison lalifrons, as originally suggested in relation to the Big-bone 

 Lick fragment."* Dr. Leidy later adds that -it [the California specimen] 



• IV... . a. ad. N.it. s. i. I'hila., 1867, p. M. 



