69 



1766. Bos bison var. 6., Linn., Syst. Nat., i, 99, 1766. — Kalm, Travels in 



N. Amer. (Porster's Trans.), i, 297. 

 1784. " Bos urus var., Bodd., Elen. Anim., 1784." 

 1845. Bos bison, Schintz, Synop. Mam., 482, 1845 (in part only). 

 1867. Bos bonasus, Brandt, Zoogeographische und Palaeontologische Bei- 



trage, 105, 1867 (in part only). — Lilljeborg, Fauna ofers sveriges 



cell Norges Ryggrad., i, 877, 1874 (in part only). 

 Taurus mexicanus, Hernandez, Mexico, 698. 

 Taurus quivirensis, Nieremb., Hist. Nat., 181, 182. 

 1819. Le bison [d' Ameriqu^], Buffon, Hist. Nat., xi, 284, Suppl., iii, pi. v. — 



F. Cuvier & Geoffroy, Hist. Nat. des Mam., I, livr. xii, 1819 ; 



II, livr. xxvii ; III, livr. xliv. — G. Cuvier, Reg. Anim., i, 170, 



1817 ; Oss. Foss., 3d ed., iv, 117, 1825. 

 1867. American bison, Agassiz, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xi, 316, 1867. 

 Buffalo, Cooper, Month. Amer. Journ. Geol., 1831, 174,207 (remains 



at Big Bone Lick). — Knight, Amer. Journ. Sci., xxvii, 166, 1835 



(remains at Big Bone Lick). — Lyell, Proc. Geol. Soc. London, 



iv, 36, 1843 (remains at Big Bone Lick). 

 Description. — An adult measures about nine feet (two and three-fourths 

 metres) from the muzzle to the insertion of the tail, and thirteen and 

 one-half feet (about, four and one-sixth metres) to the end of the tail, in- 

 cluding the hairs, which extend about fifteen inches beyond the vertebrae. 

 The female measures about six and one-half feet (about two metres) from 

 the muzzle to the insertion of the tail, and 'about seven feet (two and one- 

 sixth metres) to the end of the tail, including the hairs, which extend 

 about ten inches beyond the vertebra. The height of the male at the 

 highest part of the hump, is about five and one-half to six feet (about 

 two metres) ; of the female at the same point, about five feet (one and 

 one-half metres). The height of the male at the hips, is about four and 

 two-thirds feet (nearly one and one-half metres) ; of the female at the 

 same point, about four and one-half feet (about one and one-third metres). 

 Audubon states the weight of old males to be nearly two thousand pounds, 

 that of full-grown fat females to be about twelve hundred pounds. 



The hor«ns of the males are short, very thick at the base, and rapidly 

 taper to a sharp point, which, in old individuals, becomes worn off on the 

 lower side, and the end is often shortened by the same process, and occa- 

 sionally much splintered. Their direction is outward and upward, finally 

 curving inward. The horns of the females are much smaller at the base, 

 but nearly as long as in the males ; but they taper very gradually, and are, 

 hence, much slenderer, and are rather more incurved at the tips, where 

 they are rarely abraded as in the males. The hoofs are short and broad, 



