72 THE OX TRIBE. 



be the most nearly allied to our domestic cattle. Those 

 ruminants which are classed under the generic name of 

 Ox, may be very naturally divided into two distinct groups. 

 The first includes the Buffaloes, animals in some measure 

 aquatic, living in low, swampy localities, or near rivers, 

 in which they remain half immersed a great part of the 

 day ; having broad-based horns, partly spreading over 

 their foreheads, flat on their internal side, and round on 

 their external; tongue soft, &c. The second is that of 

 the Ox, properly so called. These are distinguished from 

 the first by their dwelling on more elevated lands, or in 

 the vicinity of forests ; having smooth round horns, with- 

 out enlargement at their base ; tongue covered with horny 

 papillse, &c. 



It is to this second family, consisting of the American 

 Bison, the Aurox, the Yak, and the domestic Ox, with its 

 varieties, that the Jungly Gau undoubtedly belongs. It 

 however differs from the first two in being entirely desti- 

 tute of the thick shaggy mane ; and, instead of the long 

 silky hair of the third, it is clothed with close, short hair, 

 equal in uniformity of texture to the sleekest of our 

 domestic cattle. To judge from its general appearance, 

 we might be even tempted to take it for a mere variety 

 of the domestic species, so close is the resemblance. But 

 the information furnished by M. Alfred Duvaucel, in the 

 only description which has been given, leaves no doubt 

 as to its being a new species. 



The following is M. Duvaucel's account : " The horns 

 o the Jungly Gau rise from the sides of the occiput, first 

 outward, then forward, with a slight inclination backward 

 of the upper extremity, forming a double lunation, and 

 separated by a space which gradually diminishes as the 



