THE ZEBU. 127 



by the intermixture of the breeds, and are entirely lost at 

 the end of a few generations ;" but he does not refer to a 

 single instance of this, authentic or otherwise ; nor are we 

 aware that any such instance ever occurred. 



Again, he states that " their anatomical structure is the 

 same ;" but he does not inform us when, or where, or how, 

 the comparison was made which enabled him to arrive at 

 that conclusion. 



Wishing to satisfy myself, as far as possible, on this 

 point, I have examined the skeleton both of the British 

 Domestic Ox and the Zebu ; and the following is the result 

 of that examination : 



NUMBER OF VERTEBBJE. 



Cerv. Dors. Lumb. Sac. Caud. Total. 



In the Zebu . .7 13 6 4 18 = 48 

 In the Common Ox . 7 13 6 5 21 = 52 



The skeletons may still be seen in the Museum of the 

 College of Surgeons. 



Furthermore, the period of gestation of the Brahmin 

 Cow (according to the MS. records of the Zoological 

 Society), is 300 days, while that of the Common Cow is 

 only 270 days. 



Whether the differences here pointed out are sufficient 

 to constitute specific distinction, is left for the umpires to 

 decide. 



