340 



VERTEBKATE ANIMALS. 



(Bovida;) the most important species is the domestic Ox {Bos taunm) 

 witli its innumerable varieties. The true Buffalos {Buhalus) are 

 natives of Asia and Africa, and are characterised by their wide 

 horns united at the base (fig. 245). The American Buffalo {Bison 

 Americanus), or Bison as it is properly called, is distinguished by its 



Fig. 24iJ. — Antelopidfe. Head of the Kuudoo {:^lirpsiceros Koodoo). 



enormous head, shaggy mane, and conical hump between the 

 shoulders. America also possesses another singular Ox (or Sheep) 

 in the person of the Musk Ox {Ovibos moschatzts), which is found 

 north of the 60th parallel, and is remarkable for its small size and 

 long woolly coat. 



Order VII. Dinocerata. 



This order comprises only some extraordinary extinct animals found in 

 the Tertiary deposits (Eocene) of North America. In Dinoceras, which may be 

 taken as the type of the group, "we have an animal of large size, resembling the 

 Elephants in most of the details of the skeleton, with five well-developed toes 

 on the fore-feet, and with four functional toes on the hind-feet, the hallux being 

 rudimentary. No trunk or " proboscis " was jiresent, but there are three pairs 

 of bony processes, or " cores," which seem to have carried as many horny pro- 

 tuberances, one pair being on the nasal bones, another on the upper jaws, and 

 the third (the largest) on the frontal bones. The upper jaw is without incisors, 

 but carries huge tusk-like canines ; and a series of six small premolars and 

 molars is present on each side. In the lower jaw are six incisors, small canines, 

 and a corresponding series of prajmolars and molars. 



Order VIII. Tillodontia. 



This is another extinct order of Mammalia, comprising some singular fossil 

 quadrupeds from the Tertiary deposits (Eocene) of North America. The ani- 

 mals included in this order resemble the Beasts of Prey (Carnivora) most 



