Chap. III. 



THEIR VARIATION. 



93 



other dogs, or as improved pigs, according to H. von Nathusius, 

 do to common pigs. 64 Kiitimeyer believes that these cattle 

 belong to the primigenius type. 65 The forehead is very short 

 and broad, with the nasal end of the skull, together with 

 the whole plane of the npper molar-teeth, curved upwards. 

 The lower jaw projects beyond the upper, and has a corre- 

 sponding upward curvature. It is an interesting fact that 

 an almost similar confirmation characterizes, as I am informed 

 by Dr. Falconer, the extinct and gigantic Sivatherium of 

 India, and is not known in any other ruminant. The upper 

 lip is much drawn back, the nostrils are seated high up and 

 are widely open, the eyes project outwards, and the horns 

 are large. In walking the head is carried low, and the neck 

 is short. The hind legs appear to be longer, compared with 

 the front legs, than is usual. The exposed incisor teeth, the 

 short head and upturned nostrils, give these cattle the most 

 ludicrous, self-confident air of defiance. The skull which I 

 presented to the College of Surgeons has been thus described 

 by Professor Owen : 66 " It is remarkable from the stunted 

 development of the nasals, premaxillaries, and fore-part of 

 the lower jaw, which is unusually curved upwards to come 

 into contact with the premaxillaries. The nasal bones are 

 about one-third the ordinary length, but retain almost their 

 normal breadth. The triangular vacuity is left between 

 them, the frontal and lachrymal, which latter bone articulates 

 with the premaxillary, and thus excludes the maxillary from 

 any junction with the nasal." So that even the con- 

 nexion of some of the bones is changed. Other differences 

 might be added : thus the plane of the condyles is somewhat 



64 « Schweineschadel,' 1864, s. 104. 

 Nathusius states that the form of 

 skull characteristic in the niata cattle 

 occasionally appears in European 

 cattle ; but he is mistaken, as we 

 shall hereafter see, in supposing that 

 these cattle do not form a distinct 

 race. Prof. Wyman, of Cambridge, 

 United States, informs me that the 

 common cod-fish presents a similar 

 monstrosity, called by the fishermen 

 *' bull-dog cod." Prof. Wyman also 



concluded, after making numerous 

 inquiries in La Plata, that the niata 

 cattle transmit their peculiarities or 

 form a race. 



65 Ueber Art des zahmen Europ. 

 Pvindes, 1S66, s. 28. 



68 ' Descriptive Cat. of Ost. Collect, 

 of College of Surgeons,' 1853, p. 624. 

 Vasey, in his ' Delineations of the Ox- 

 tribe,' has given a figure of this skull ; 

 and I sent a photograph of it to Prof. 

 Rutimeyer. 



