THE HOLLOW-HORNED RUMINANTS 



195 



centage of butter than ordinary cow's milk. So useful is this mud- and water-loving animal 

 in all swampy districts, that wherever rice is cultivated it is almost indispensable. The 

 result is that the Indian buffalo has been transported, probably in comparatively modern 

 times, to many distant quarters of the globe. When this was done is not known; but it is 

 probable, for instance, that it was not known in Egypt in the days of the Pharaohs, for its 

 form never appears in the paintings and sculptures. Now it is seen very far up the Nile, and 

 plays .m important part in Egyptian agriculture; it is also the general beast of burden and 

 for the dairy in the Pontine Marshes of Italy. In Spain it was probably introduced by the 

 Arabs, and is used to cultivate the marshy plains near the mouths of the rivers oi Andalusia; 

 it is also in use in the marshes of Hungary, in the Crimea, and across Western Asia to 

 Afghanistan. We have thus the curious fact that a wild animal once confined to the jungles 

 of the Indian Peninsula is now domesticated on two other continents. It has not been 



A PAIR OF ANOAS 



The anoa h the smallest and most antelope-like member of the Ox Tribe 



introduced into America yet, though it would be useful in the Mississippi swamps; but the 

 Chinese have taken it to the Far East, and established it as their favourite beast of burden. 



The Tamarau and Anoa 



In the island of Mindoro, in the Philippines, a small black buffalo, with upright, slightly 

 incurved horns, is found in the dense forests. The height at the shoulder is about 3 feet 

 6 inches; a few irregular marks of white are found on the fore legs, face, and occasionally 

 tin throat. It is called the TAMARAU by the natives, most of whom fear to attack it. Its 

 habits are said to be much the same as those of the other buffaloes; but it is reputed to fight 

 with the Indian buffaloes which have escaped and become semi-wild in the forests. 



In Celebes a still smaller wild forest-buffalo is found, called the ANOA. It is only 3 feet 

 3 inches high at the shoulder, and has upright, almost straight horns. The general colour 

 is brownish, tinged with yellow, that of the adults being very dark brown or black. Scarcely 

 anything is known of its habits. 



