BISON, the name given to two large animals of the ox family: the European bison (Bison europaeus) and the American bison (B. americanus), the latter in North America commonly called buffalo. The bisons differ from typical oxen (Bos) in their greater breadth, the convexity of their foreheads, their larger lirnbs, the hump on the shoulders, and in having 14 instead of 13 pairs of ribs. The forehead, neck and shoulders (the shoulders in winter in B. europaeus) are covered with long, shaggy hair.
Formerly inhabiting the wnole of Europe, the European species is now restricted to the forests of the Caucasus and a few parks in Russia and Lithuania. The American bison, once roaming the prairies in countless millions, nearly became extinct at the end of the last century, but is now protected and is increasing in the national parks of the United States and Canada.
The beef of the bison is nearly equal to that of domestic cattle. There are two races of the Ameri can animal, the prairie form and a somewhat larger woodland vari ety. The bison feeds on grass and the leaves, twigs, shoots and bark of trees.