CUD-CUEWEkS. 



49 



winter upon mosses and lichens, from tlie steep sides 

 of hills blown bare by the winds, and up which it 

 chmbs with agilit)^ In spite of its name, it is more 

 nearly related to the Sheep than to the true Ox. 



The Bison, or American Buffalo. 



The Bison, or Buffalo, of the western plains, is the 

 largest quadruped of America, being of the size of a 

 large Ox. It is covered with thick dark hair, that about 



Fig. 6g. — Bison, or American Buffalo. 



the head and shoulders being long and shagg}-. At 

 the time of the discovery of America, the Buffalo was 

 found even to the shores of the Atlantic. It «'as not 

 uncommon to see the prairies covered with Buffaloes as 

 far as the eye could reach ; travelers have passed through 

 herds of them for daj^s in succession, with scarceh-- any 

 apparent lessening of their numbers. Their paths re- 

 sembled traveled roads ; and as their routes, in most 

 cases, extended in a straight line from one con\'cnient 

 crossing-place of a river or ravine to another, taking 



NAT. HIST. AN. — 4 



