60 



Artiodactyla — Bison, Ox, Buffalo, etc. 



Pier-ease, 

 No. 16. 



Bison. 



Pier-case, 

 No. 17. 



Indian 

 Bovidae. 



Pier-case, 

 No. 18. 



Bos primi- 

 genius. 



European Bison, thus showing a far wider geographical range 

 for this species in Pleistocene times than at the present day. 



The American Bison is represented by a recent skull and 

 mandible, and by the calvarium and horn -cores of a fossil species 

 (Bison latijrons, Harlan), from Texas. Both the American and 

 European species of bison are now nearly exterminated by man. 



This case contains a long series of skulls of early forms of 

 Indian Oxen from the older Pliocene deposits of the Siwalik 

 Hills. They have been chiefly referred to the genus Bubalus, two 

 species being represented, namely, B. occipitalis and B. acuticornis. 



They are related to the Anoa, a small species of wild buffalo 

 now living in the Celebes. Two other species, referred to the 

 genus Leptobos, are also represented in this case. 



Pier-case, 

 No. 19. 



Fig. 71. — Skull of Bos laurus, var. primigenius (Bojanus); Pleistocene, Athol. 

 (See Pier-case, No. 18.) 



In this case are displayed a very fine series of perfect 

 crania, with the horn-cores and various portions of the skeleton 

 and limb-bones of the gigantic extinct British Ox, Bos primi- 

 genius, from the brick-earth of Ilford, from Walton and 

 Clacton, Essex, and from Crayford, Kent ; and from peat- 

 deposits and Turbaries in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, &c. 



These fine animals were probably the oxen referred to by 

 Ca3sar under the name of TJrus ; but though they surpassed in 

 size and in the greater expanse and strength of horns any of 

 our modern breeds of cattle, they were probably the ancestors of 

 the larger existing European varieties found in Spain, Italy, and 

 Hungary. The wild cattle at Chillingham Park, Northumber- 

 land, may perhaps be the last surviving descendants of Bos 

 primigenius, but greatly reduced in size. 



In this case are placed a series of skulls with horn-cores, 

 lower jaws, and other remains of Bos longifrons believed to be 



