KEY TO LAND MAMMALS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA 79 



FAMILIES OF UNGUI.ATA 



Horns simple, hollow, permanent , -. Bovidae 



Horns branched, solid, periodically shed Cervidae 



Family Bovidae Cattle^ biso?t, sheep, etc. 



Horns permanent, consisting of a hollow sheath and solid bony core, canine 

 teeth never present. (Bovidae; Genus Bos) 



The family Bovidae, containing the cattle, bison, sheep, true ante- 

 lopes, and their allies, is represented by about 30 genera, chiefly African 

 and Asiatic. Only one of the three genera occurring in America is con- 

 fined to the western hemisphere. A single genus has inhabited north- 

 eastern North America within historic times. 



Genus Bison Hamilton Smith 



1827 Bison Hamilton Smith, Griffith's Ciivier, Animal kingdom. 5:373. Type 

 Bos bison Linnaeus. 



Forehead convex, much broader than long; horns placed in front of highest 

 part of skull; head heavily clothed with long bushy hair. (Bison; Lat., a 

 bison) 



Two living members of this genus are known, one peculiar to eastern 

 Europe, the other to North America. The remains of several extinct 

 species have been found in various parts of North America. 



Bison bison (Linnaeus) American bisofi 



1758 [Bos] bison Linnaeus, Systeraa naturae, ed. 10. 1:72 (Texas). 

 1891 B [ison] bison Jordan, Manual of the vertebrate animals of the 

 northern United States, ed. 5, p. 337. 



Horn core short (under 10 in. or 250 mm) very strongly curved, circumference 

 at base much greater than length along upper curvature, (bison; Lat. a bison) 



The American bison, which formerly ranged throughout central North 

 America, east to Pennsylvania and central New York, is now practically 

 extinct, but the skulls and horn cores may be occasionally found in salt 

 licks and other places once frequented by the animals. Our animal was 

 the plains bison, B. bison bison, smaller and shorter horned than 

 the woodland bison, B. bison athabascae Rhoads. 



Family Cervidae Deer and their allies 



Horns solid, shed and renewed each year, usually much bnitichod, (hough 

 occasionally (always in young) simple ; canine teeth usually present in uppor 

 jaw. (C6rvidae; genus Corvus) 



The family Cervidae contains 10 or more genera mostly o\ very 

 wide distribution or peculiar to the old world. At least three are con- 



