6o4 UNGULATA. 



it seeks on everj' side for the foe. As soon as it catches a glance of its 

 enemy it lowers its head toward the ground, so that the tips of its horns 

 are only a few mches above the earth, and its nose lies between its fore- 

 legs, and then it plunges forward at the shrinking tiger. Were the latter 

 to dare the brunt of the buffalo's charge, the first attack would probably 

 be the last , but, as the tiger is continually shifting its position, the force 

 of the onset is greatly weakened. Usually the buffalo is victorious, for 

 the tiger, even if successful in the first onset, does not follow up his 

 advantage, and allows his adversary to recover his breath. Tlie buffalo, 

 on the other hand, delivers charge after charge, never giving the tiger 

 time to rest. At last the wearied feline is off his guard, and with a 

 grand rush the buffalo impales him on his horns, and hurls him into the 

 air to fall crushed and lifeless to the earth. 



Captain Williamson, in his work on " Oriental Field Sports," de- 

 scribes the Buffalo, and its mud-loving propensities: 



"This animal not only delights in the water, but will not tlirive un- 

 less it have a swamp to wallow in. Then rolling themselves, they 

 speedily work deep hollows, wlierein they lie immersed. No place 

 seems to delight the Buffalo more than the deep verdure on the confines 

 oijccls and marshes, especially if surrounded by tall grass, so as to afford 

 concealment and shade, while the body is covered by tlie water. In 

 such situations they seem to enjoy a perfect ecstasy, having in general 

 nothing above the surface but their eyes and nostrils, their horns being 

 kept low down, and consequently hidden from view. 



" Frequently nothing is perceptible but a few black lumps in the 

 water, appearing like small clods, for the buffaloes being often fast 

 asleep, all is quiet ; and a passenger would hardly expect to see, as 

 often happens, twenty or thirty great beasts suddenly rise. I have a 

 thousand times been unexpectedly surprised in this manner by tame 

 buffaloes, and once or twice by wild ones. The latter are very danger- 

 ous, and the former are by no means to be considered as innocent. The 

 banks of the Ganges al)ound with buffaloes in their wild state, as does 

 all the country where long grass and capacious jccls are to be found. 

 Buffaloes swim very well, or, I may say, float. It is very common to 

 see droves crossing the Ganges and other great rivers at all seasons, but 

 especially when the waters are low. At a distance one would take tliem 

 to be large pieces of rock or dark-colored wood, nothing appearing but 

 their faces. It is no unusual tiling for a boat to get into the thick of 



