io6 



VERTEBRATES : MAMMALS. 



year-old cow ; the 

 horns united on 

 the summit of the 

 head, flat, broad, 

 bent down against 

 the cheek, with the 

 points turned up. 

 The color is brown- 

 ish-black. 



The Genus Bos 

 is characterized by 



Musk Ox, O. moschatus, Blainville. homS Curving OUt- 



wards and upwards, broad naked muzzle, wide space be- 

 tween the nostrils, large ears, rather long tail, and broad 

 hoofs. It comprises about ten species. 



The Common Ox, B. taurus, Linn., so serviceable to 

 man, is too well known to need description. Its varieties 

 are numerous. The Zebu is a variety inhabiting India, 

 which has a large hump of fat upon the back between 

 the shoulders. The male is known as the Brahmin Bull, 

 and is held sacred by the Hindoos. 



The American Buffalo, B. amcricanus, Gm., formerly 

 inhabiting nearly all North America, but now only the 

 Western plains, is the largest quadruped of America, be- 

 ing of the size of a large domestic ox, and characterized 

 by a large head, which is carried low, broad forehead, 

 broad full chest, large hump between the shoulders, nar- 

 row loins, and comparatively slender legs. The horns, 

 set far apart, are thick at base, and taper rapidly to a 

 sharp point. The Buffalo is covered with a thick coat 

 of hair ; that upon the head, neck, hump, shoulders, and 

 fore legs to the knees, is very long and shaggy. The 

 horns, hoofs, and hair except the middle of the back, 

 which is brownish are black. The Buffalo is found 

 in herds from a score to several thousand in number. 



