AMERICAN BISON 



405 



Skull and Horns of American Bison. 



AMERICAN BISON (Bos bison). 



Some of the points distinguishing this species from the European 

 bison have been mentioned under the head of the latter, but it may be 

 added that in the typical race of the former the horns are shorter, 

 thicker, blunter, and more sharply curved. In the skull of the American 

 animal the sockets of the eyes have a more tubular form. Height at 

 shoulder about 6 feet; weight from 15 to 20 cwt. ; an adult bull 

 weighed by W. T. Hornaday scaled 1727 lbs. 



Distribiitio7i. — The greater portion of Western North America, ascend- 

 ing to the Great Slave Lake, and descending to New Mexico and 

 Texas ; now nearly exterminated. American writers recognise two 

 races (or species), the prairie bison {B. bison typiais) and the larger 

 wood-bison (i?. biso7i atliabasca;) of the forest highlands of the 

 North-West. 



