486 MAMMALIA OF INDIA. 
the works of Captain J. Forsyth and Mr. G. P. Sanderson (‘The 
Highlands of Central India’ and ‘Thirteen years among the Wild 
Beasts ’). 
The gaur prefers hilly ground, though it is sometimes found on low 
levels. It is extremely shy and retiring in its habits, and so quick of 
hearing that extreme care has to be taken in stalking to avoid treading 
on a dry leaf or stick. I know to my cost that the labour of hours may 
be thrown away by a moment of impatience. In spite of all the 
wondrous tales of its ferocity, it is as a rule a timid, inoffensive animal. 
Solitary bulls are sometimes dangerous if suddenly come upon. I once 
did so, and the bull turned and dashed up-hill before I could get a shot, 
whereas a friend cf mine, to whom a similar thing occurred a few weeks 
before, was suddenly charged, and his gun-bearer was knocked over. 
The gaur seldom leaves its jungles, but I have known it do so on 
the borders of the Sonawani forest, in order to visit a small tank 
at Untra near Ashta, and the cultivation in the vicinity suffered 
accordingly. 
Hitherto most attempts to rear this animal when young have failed. 
It is said not to live over the third year. Though I offered rewards 
for calves for my collection, I never succeeded in getting one. I have 
successfully reared most of the wild animals of the Central provinces, 
but had not a chance of trying the bison. 
No. 465. GAV&US FRONTALIS. 
The Mithun or Gayal. 
Native NaMEs.—Gaya/, Gavi or Gabi, Gabi-bichal (male), Gadbi-gat 
(female) ; Bunerea-goru in Chittagong and Assam ; A/7¢hun. 
Hapirat.—The hilly tracts east of the Brahmaputra, at the head of 
the Assam valley, the Mishmi hills, in hill Tipperah, Chittagong, and 
then southwards through Burmah to the hills bordering on the Koladyne 
river. 
DeEscripTion.—Very like the gaur at first sight, but more clumsy 
looking ; similarly coloured, but with a small dewlap; the legs are 
white as in the last species. In the skull the forehead is not concave 
as in the gaur, but flat, and if anything rather convex. The back has 
a dorsal ridge similar to that of the gaur. 
The gaya/ is of a much milder disposition than the gawr, and is 
extensively domesticated, and on the frontiers of Assam is considered a 
valuable property by the people. ‘The milk is rich and the flesh good. 
There are purely domesticated mzthuns bred in captivity, but accord- 
ing to many writers the herds are recruited from the wild animals, 
which are tempted either to interbreed, or are captured and tamed. In 
Dr. F. Buchanan Hamilton’s MS. (see Horsfield’s ‘Cat. Mammalia, 
