14 



Oxen 



To obtain an idea of the full dimensions, allowance must be made for 

 the horny sheaths, which, of course, have perished. 



Distribution. — During the Plistocene period nearly the whole of Europe, 

 ranging from the British Islands to the south of Russia, and from Scan- 

 dinavia to Spain and Italy ; probably also extending into Western Asia. 

 In many parts of Central and Eastern Europe the species survived as a wild 

 animal till a comparatively late date in the historic period. 



h. North African Wild Race — Bos taurus mauritanicus [Extinct) 



Bos primigcniiis mauritanicus^ P.Thomas, Bull. Soc. Zool. France^ 1881, 

 p. 36, pi. iii. 



Bos opistliononius, Pomel, Carte Geol. Algcric, Man. Pal. — Les Bauifs, 

 p. 16 (1894). 



Characters. — Nearly allied to the luiropean wild race, but with the 

 forehead shorter, the horn-cores curving less forwards and more down- 

 wards, and the limbs relatively longer and more slender. 



The Bos opisthonomus of M. Pomel, which is practically admitted by its 

 describer as identical with the B. primigenius mauritanicus of Mr. P. Thomas, 

 is regarded by the former writer as entitled to rank as a distinct species ; 

 but there can be little hesitation in classing it as a variety of the 

 common ox. 



Distribution. — ^Northern Africa in the districts of Algeria and Tunis, 



