Bison (heraldic animal)
The bison is a common figure in heraldry and a little common heraldic animal .
A wild cattle with a strongly formed neck (important feature) and shaggy fur is shown. The animal can be represented in all heraldic colors . Representations in the unheraldic color brown / natural are also possible. The reinforcements , such as B. hooves and horns can be tinged differently and must then be mentioned separately in the blazon . It is shown standing, running or rarely upright in the coat of arms . The head can also be turned to the viewer (en face) and must be mentioned in the description. In the case of the sole frontal representation of the animal's head, the description of the coat of arms is often required for clear identification, since confusion with similar heraldic animals (bull, ox, etc.) must be avoided. A special heraldic symbolic power, apart from strength and robustness, is not recognizable. The heraldic animal is used more in coats of arms of its natural occurrence.
See also
literature
- Gert Oswald : Lexicon of Heraldry . Bibliographical Institute, Mannheim / Vienna / Zurich / Leipzig 1984, ISBN 3-411-02149-7 ; 2nd unchanged edition with the subtitle Von Apfelkreuz bis Zwillingsbalken, Battenberg, Regenstauf 2006, ISBN 3-86646-010-4 ; 3rd edition 2011, ISBN 978-3-86646-077-5 , p. 383.
