Show I THE HORNS I I Traces Family Tree 1 If f Shaggy-Haired Shaggy Plains Bison Features LINCOLN NEB The The family tree of the Great Plains o son n is being given its first geologically scientific appraisal the University of Nebraska state muse museum m. m Research com com- ted eted in the past eight years reveals that ancestors of the haired creatures which in the century numbered ons ons and drew hunters from it r the world to the plains of Kanand Kanand Kanand Kan- Kan and Nebraska first came to irth th th America about years o. o Q That was when the second of three big glaciers of the Ice Age Ages Age's s 's s retreating from the northern eat at Plains r. r C. C B. B Schultz museum and W. W D. D Frankforter assist- assist I t it curator of paleontology of the report that their studies us s far indicate two unusual ten- ten cies cies' in evolution of the bison First the great granddaddy of them em all who came carne to this conent continent continent con- con ent from Asia was characterIzed character character- ed mainly by huge horns which averaged 80 inches from tip to tip But the bod body of this creature known scientifically as was l I ss than thana thant t r a foot taller and a foot longer than the present buffalo Suc- Suc L generations showed only one significant change size of the horns They steadily shrank to today's average of 22 inches from tip to tip The body remained nearly the same Second the bison unlike other prehistoric animals found in North America such as elephants elephants elephants ele ele- ele- ele rhinos horses and camels camels camels cam cam- els first appeared on our continent continent con con- as as a large e animal and decrease decreased de de- de- de creased crease l in size o The University of Nebraska ts also believe on the basis of resent studies that the bison tion has had its ups and downs lie Che e first bison they say apparently ras as s relatively few in numbers since a few scattered skeletal reins re- re ains ins have been found thus far in ansas and Nebraska But they increased in numbers as the climate began warm- warm ig g up and more food was made to the growing herds But Buto bout o ut years ago a human apparently a race of migrated from Asia to this and the numbers of bison ere vere greatly reduced These tribes 10 p 0 w we e v e r suddenly disappeared om on the Great Plains for reasons which ich are still a mystery to ts After their disappearance lh however wever bison herds staged a comeback IThe The herds gained steadily in size eye even eyen after appearance of the early Indians in the Great Plains region But ut with the coming of the white wan nan an the bison all but disappeared from the continent I The research work now under iWay ay at University of Nebraska is expected to take at least five more years to complete lears |