20 Oxen 



Characters. — Distinguished from the common ox by the presence of a 

 distinct hump on the withers, by the conformation of the skull, and the 

 curvature oi the horns, by the large and drooping ears, the enormous 

 dewlap, and the grunting cry. The presence of a white ring round each 

 fetlock is also very characteristic of this ox. Moreover, humped cattle 

 seldom seek the shelter of shade, and never stand knee-deep in water like 

 the domesticated European breeds. 



Although in the Indian breeds the horns are in most cases of com- 

 paratively small size, in the Galla breed of Africa they attain enormous 

 proportions. Nothing is known as to the ancestry or original habitat of 

 humped cattle. Mr. Blyth was, indeed, of opinion that they originally 

 came from Africa, but there is nothing definite in favour of such a view. 



Distribution. — Known only in the domesticated state from India, Burma, 

 China, Siam, Africa, and Madagascar. Properly speaking, therefore, the 

 species does not come within the scope of the present volume, but since it 

 is important that its right to distinction should be recognised, it has been 

 thought better to give the above brief notice. It may be added that the 

 origin of the name -zebu is quite unknown, it being foreign to all the 

 native languages of India. 



4. The Siwalik Ox — Bos acutifrons {Extinct) 



Bos acutifrons., Lydekker, Rcc. Geo/. Surv. India, vol. x. p. 30 (1877), 

 Pa/. Ind. {Mem. Geo/. Surv. Im/.), ser. 10, vol. i. pp. i 12 and 173, pis. xii. 

 and xiii. (1878). 



C/iaracters. — .\. magnificent species differing from other members of the 

 present group by the convexity of the forehead, the shorter interval between 

 the bases of the horn-cores and the sockets of the eyes, the curvature and 

 pyriform section of the enormous horn-cores, which are set closer together 

 on the forehead, and the form of the occiput. 



