BISON

The trivial name of certain species of the Linnaean genus Bos, which differ from their congeners ill having fourteen {Bos bison), or fifteen (Bos American i is), instead of thirteen pairs of ribs. The common bison of the north of Europe {Bos bison), and the American bison, or bona us {Bos A7nericanus), are the only known existing species of this group. [s. 162]