The
animal you describe is in truth a species of the bos ferus, (or bos
sylvestris, as he has been happily called by the poets,) but, though
of close affinity, it is altogether distinct from the common bubulus.
Bison is the better word; and I would suggest the necessity of
adopting it in future, when you shall have occasion to allude to the
species."
"Bison or buffaloe, it makes but little matter. The creatur' is the
same, call it by what name you will, and--"
"Pardon me, venerable venator; as classification is the very soul of
the natural sciences, the animal or vegetable must, of necessity, be
characterised by the peculiarities of its species, which is always
indicated by the name--"
"Friend," said the trapper, a little positively, "would the tail of a
beaver make the worse dinner for calling it a mink; or could you eat
of the wolf, with relish, because some bookish man had given it the
name of venison?"
As these questions were put with no little earnestness and some
spirit, there was every probability that a hot discussion would have
succeeded between two men, of whom one was so purely practical and the
other so much given to theory, had not Ishmael seen fit to terminate
the dispute, by bringing into view a subject that was much more
important to his own immediate interests.
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