Bison not Aurochs

Abstract

I AM glad that Mr. Lydekker accedes (NATURE, May 15, p. 53) to the correction of which I had pointed out the need. But the “vulgar error”—if the Editor will allow me to use a phrase made classical nearly 250 years ago by Sir Thomas Browne—is of more ancient date than my friend seems to suppose; and Dr. Gadow has kindly referred me to Prof. Wrzeniowski's “Studien zur Geschichte des polnischen Tur,” published in May 1878 (Zeitschr. für wissenschaftl. Zoologie, xxx. pp. 493–555). Therein will be seen reduced copies of the engravings in an edition of Herberstein's “Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii” (Basileæ: 1571), giving a figure of each of the animals. The first is inscribed