The Bison. 
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THE BISON. (Bos or Bison Bouasus.) 
There are two kinds of Bison ; one a native of Europe, 
and the other of America. The European Bison, or 
Bonasus, is as large as a bull or ox ; maned about the 
back and neck like a lion ; and his hair hanging down 
under his chin, or nether jaw, like a large beard. The 
fore parts of his body are thick and strong, but the 
hinder parts are comparatively slender. He has a little 
ridge along his face from his forehead down to his nose, 
which is very hairy; his horns are large, very sharp, and 
turning towards his back, like those of a wild goat. 
The American Bison (B. Americanus), attains a size far 
superior to that of the largest breeds of our common 
oxen, and is met with throughout nearly the whole of 
the uninhabited parts of North America, from Hudson's 
Bay to Louisiana and the frontiers of Mexico. Captains 
Lewis and Clarke, and Dr. James, bear frequent testi- 
mony to the almost incredible numbers in which these 
animals assemble on the banks of the Missouri. " Such 
was their multitude," say the first-named travellers, 
11 that, although the river, including an island over 
