26o THE OX AND ITS KINDRED 
less than seven distinct species. Remains of the 
existing American bison (B. bison) occur abundantly 
in a sub-fossil condition in Big Bone Lick, Kentucky, 
which formed a regular sepulchre of extinct and 
other animals. In a completely mineralised con- 
dition they have also been obtained from the super- 
ficial formations of Kansas — in one case at a depth 
of 25 feet below the surface — and also from 
Missouri. Big Bone Lick has likewise yielded skulls 
of a larger and stouter-horned species described as 
B. antiquus} It is characterised by the comparative 
stoutness and shortness of the horn-cores, which taper 
abruptly, and have the basal girth much exceeding 
the length along the upper curve. In section they 
are nearly circular or slightly triangular, with the 
transverse but little longer than the vertical diameter ; 
while at the tips, which are slightly recurved, they 
scarcely rise above the plane of the forehead. The 
vertical axis of the horn-cores runs nearly at right 
angles to the longitudinal axis of the skull; — a 
character distinguishing the species from all the 
other American bisons. In this feature B. antiquus 
approximates to a specimen in the British Museum 
of the European B. priscus from the brick-earths of 
Ilford, Essex,^ but the horn-cores of the latter are 
larger and directed much more upwards. The species 
also occurs in California, and has the alternative 
name of B. calif ornicus. 
A bison from the superficial deposits of Fort 
Yukon, Alaska, which has received the name of 
B. occidentalism is readily distinguished from the last 
' This name is antedated by the Algerian Bos {Bubalus) antiquus^ 
vide infra. 
- Incorrectly given by Mr. Lucas as Sussex. 
