Volume 12, Plate XXX / Mammalia (Mammals)

American Bison

Bos Americanus

The American bison is a fierce treacherous-looking animal upwards of six feet at the shoulder, of liver or umber brown, the large head and fore quarter clothed in long shaggy hair nearly obscuring the small bloodshot eye, the horns small, acute and far apart, with a fatty hump much esteemed. Roaming the northern prairies in countless herds, it commonly weighs twelve to fourteen hundredweight, sometimes two thousand pounds, its juicy well-flavoured flesh and wool both valued.