OXEN. 141 



seem to indicate that the Cascades present a more formidable barrier for the limitation of species than 

 the Rocky Moimtain chain."* 



A closely allied fossil species, B. bombifrons, has been found in the post-glacial and recent 

 deposits on the Ohio. 



The Old-world representative of this species — the Urus or Auroch, — formerly extended all 

 over jMiddle Europe, the Caucasus and the Carpathian Momitains, but is now restricted to a district 

 in Litliuania, where its existence is prolonged solely by the care of the Russian Government. 



A fossil sjjecies allied to this (Bos priscus), and intermediate between it and the American Bison 

 (perhaps the ancestor of both), has been found in various localities in the post-glacial deposits of the 

 North of Europe and Siberia. Information as to its existence in Eastern Siberia is wanted. There is a 

 wide gap between the habitats of the two living species. 



3rd Section. Buffaloes (Bubalus). (Map 38.) 



The Buffalo belongs to the Africano-Indian region, there being two African and two Indian 

 species, and the intimate connexion between those known as the CajDe and Indian Buffaloes, is a 

 powerful argument in favour of there having been a former connexion between these two countries. 



Indian Buffalo. — Although now to be met with in various other parts of Asia, the Buffalo 

 is believed to have originated in India, — according to Mr. Blj'th, in the sub-IIimmalaj-an forests, 

 whence he thinks it has spread into other suitable localities, such as the great swampy j ungles of India. 

 I do not know the ground on which he rests this opinion, nor do I see why it may not as well have 

 spread from the swampy jungles of the Peninsula into the sub-Himmalayan districts. 



Its present (secondary) distribution, chiefly by domestication, now extends into China, Thibet, 

 Persia, Armenia, even to the Caspian and Black Sea, over Arabia, Syria, and the whole of the 

 North of Africa. 



Cape Buffalo. — This species inhabits South Africa, reaching as far north as Abyssinia on the 

 one side of the Continent, and Guinea on the other. 



It by no means falls behind its Indian brother in size, and much exceeds it in ferocity, being one 

 of the most dangerous animals to hunt (probably the most dangerous), on the face of the earth. 

 Its habits, as well as its form, correspond closely with those of the Indian species. Like it, it 

 delights in water and marshy places ; but the Cape species is irreclaimably wild, at least has never 

 been tamed, while the Indian is a valuable domestic animal ; and the coarse, lean flesh of the Ca-pe 

 species beats anything but the undiscriminating appetite of a Hottentot to swallow it, while the 

 flesh of the Indian species furnishes good food. 



Bos BRACiiYCERUs. — This is a West .ilfrican species, found from Senegal to the Gaboon. It has 

 two or three rings or wrinkles on the base of its horns, which remind us of its Bubaline connexion 

 as well as of the connexion between the Oxen and wrinkle-horned Antelo23es. 



Yak. — (Bos grunniens.) I have some hesitation in following Dr. Giebel in including the Yak 

 among the Buffaloes. StiU if it owes its peculiar form (which it probably does) to change of 

 condition from the swampy jungles of the Peninsula of India to the neighboiu'hood of the eternal 

 snows of the loftiest mountains of Thibet, when these mountains were gradually raised, it is 

 reasonable to expect that some extraordinary modification would bo produced. 



It is spread o^-er Upper Ladak, Thibet, Northern China, ^Mongolia, and the Kimmalayahs, 

 at an elevation of from 10,000 to 17,000 feet above the level of the sea. 



* Newberry, op. cit. vol. vi. p. 72. 



