Common Ox 9 



cervical vertebra is short, the spines ot the dorsal vertebra? are of moderate 

 height and slope regularly and slightly away to the lumbar vertebra', thus 

 producing the straight line ot the back. The upward production of the 

 vertex of the skull so as completely to shut out the occipital surface in a 

 front view, and the abbreviation ot the parietal zone, indicate that the 

 present and following groups are the most specialised ot all the oxen ; but 

 as regards the vertebra- the bison group is more advanced than the present 

 one. 



Distribution. — At the present day non-existent in a wild condition, but 

 formerly ranging over the greater portion ot the Eastern Holarctic and 

 some part of the Oriental regions. 



I. The Common Ox — Bos taurus 



Bos tai/nis, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 98 (1766). 



This species being extinct as a wild animal can only be very im- 

 perfectly described. There is no hump on the withers, the horns are 

 perfectly cylindrical, strongly curved, and situated on the extreme summit 

 of the occipital crest of the skull, the hinder surtace of which is very tall, 

 and without any distinct lateral notches. The cry is the well-known 

 " low " of the domestic breeds. 



The case of species named from domesticated breeds is always a difficult 

 one as regards nomenclature ; and many writers refuse to adopt such name 

 for the original wild race, whether living or extinct. After consultation 

 with my friend Mr. O. Thomas, of the British Museum, I have, however, 

 come to the conclusion that, in the cases of the extinct European ox and 

 the living wild goat, it is preferable to retain the names originally given 

 to the domesticated breeds. 



