31 



ture that " looks not like an inhabitant o' the earth, and 

 yet is on't." 



GROUP 27. — Family Bovida. The Bos family is a 

 large and important one, and is led by the Bison {Bison 

 etmericanus), the well-known " Buffalo " of the plains. Su- 

 perior examples of the two sexes and the young are here 

 preserved. One other species only is known, the European 

 Bison. This is so rare, that were it not for the preservation 

 of a small herd in Lithuania in Europe, by the Emperor of 

 Russia, none would be alive at present. The specimen in 

 the collection was obtained by permission of the emperor 

 and is the only one in this country. It is the Auroch of 

 European geological deposits. 



This family Bovtdet includes the Antelopes, Wild Cattle, 

 the Buffaloes of Asia and Africa, Chamois, Goats, Sheep, 

 &c. The notable Chamois of the Alps is a prominent 

 member. The largest of the antelope kind is the El, AND, 

 a most beautiful creature, very frequently seen in mena- 

 geries. It is about the size of a cow. 



The Gorcon GNU {Catoblcpas gorgoii) here repre- 

 sents that small group of African forms. The gnu or 

 horned horse has always been an attractive object, and [ike 

 the preceding often seen in menageries. Its horse-like 

 head and cleft hoofs seemingly being contradictory. 



A large skull with extremely wide-spreading horns here 

 represents one of the great Eas t Indian Oxi'.n. 



The true buffalo is an African animal. Several species 

 of the Bos family can be usually seen alive in the Central 

 Park menagerie. The interesting SACRED Bu i. of Burmah 

 has bred there several times. The great massive Indian 

 BlBOS is also there at present. 



The MOUNTAIN Goat {Marama montanus) is probably 

 the most unfamiliar of American animals. Though not 

 especially scarce, its extreme isolation among the highest 

 peaks of the mountains has hitherto proved a nearly com- 

 plete barrier to its capture. A few specimens have re- 

 cently been added to museums in this country, One of 



