ZOOLOGY. 



although capable of powerfully defending itself 

 by kicking. It is a native of Africa. 



Giraffe (Camelopardalis girajfe). 



(E.) The Cavicornia including Sheep, Oxen, 

 Goats, and Antelopes are the most typical Rumi- 

 nants, and those of most service to man (vide 

 dental formula and characters of a typical rumin- 

 ant). Their horns are essentially bony promin- 

 ences from the frontal bone. This bony promin- 

 ence, or core, is permanent, and is covered by a 

 sheath of horn. The Cavicornia comprises three 

 families : 



The family Antilopida, which contains upwards 

 of seventy species, are characterised more or 

 less by their simple, cylindrical horns, the core 

 of which is composed of solid bone. They are 

 remarkable for their slenderness of form and 

 swiftness of foot. The speed of the swiftest 

 species surpasses that of every other mammiferous 

 animal. The antelopes are very numerous in 

 individual species, and are chiefly found in Africa ; 

 but one species, the Chamois (Rupicarpa tragus), 

 inhabits the mountainous parts of the south of 

 Europe. Among the African species are the 

 Eland (Boselaphus Oreas), the largest species of 

 the family ; the Gazelle (Gazella Dorcas), noted 

 for its beautiful eyes, and the Spring-bok (G. 

 euchore), which occasionally visits cultivated 



Gnu (Catoblepas Gnu). 



lands during seasons of drought, in innumerable 

 herds, causing devastation wherever they pass. 

 Allied to the antelopes is the curious genus Gnu 



of South Africa, The body and crupper, also the 

 tail, neck, and mane, resemble those of a horse ; 

 whilst its horns are like those of the Cape Buffalo ; 

 and its legs are slender and light as those of a 



Nyl-Ghau (Portax picta). 



stag. The Nyl-Ghau (Portax picta) is common 

 in the northern parts of India. 



The family of Ovida includes only the Sheep 

 and Goats, which have horns turned upwards and 

 backwards. Horns are generally present in both 

 sexes, but they are largest in the male. The 

 original stock of the domestic breeds of the goats 

 (Copra) appear to be indigenous in Persia, where 

 it inhabits the mountains in large troops. The 

 ijoats of Angora, Tibet, &c. celebrated for the fine 

 quality of their hair, are merely varieties of the 

 common species (C. hircus). The Ibex (C. Ibex) 

 is found in the Alps and Caucasus, and is distin- 

 guished by the strength and size of its horns. 

 Numerous varieties of the domestic sheep (Ovis 

 aries) are known, but their relation to each other 

 is uncertain. The Merino Sheep (a Spanish 

 variety) are specially celebrated for their fine 

 wool. The sheep appears to have been domesti- 

 cated by man at a very early period ; and on the 

 uses of this family to him there is no need to 

 enlarge in this place. 



The family of Bovidce, or Oxen, have rounded 

 horns, directed upwards and forwards, the bony 

 core being cellular. They are large animals, with 

 a broad muzzle, robust form, and stout limbs. 

 Without exception, of all the animals which man 

 has reduced to his service, the ox is the most 

 useful. Many breeds or races of oxen exist in 

 different parts of the world, which were probably 

 all descendants from one stock, and yet differ 

 considerably from one another. Most of those 

 inhabiting the torrid zone have a lump of fat 

 upon the shoulders, which increases in size in 

 proportion to the abundance of their food. This 

 is especially remarkable in the Indian or Brahmin 

 Bull, Zebu (Bos Indicus), which is regarded as 

 sacred by the Hindus. Amongst the undomesti- 

 cated species of this family may be noticed the 

 Aurochs, or Lithuanian Bison (Bos bison), which 

 was formerly spread over Europe, but is now 

 restricted to the Caucasus ; the American Bison, 

 commonly called Buffalo (Bison Americanus), 



3 183 



