ORDER ARTIODACTYLA I EVEN-TOED UNGULATES 515 



Coimbatore, at an elevation of 6,000-8,000 feet. "This forest divi- 

 sion contains, in one particular part, the white bison which appears 

 to be developing into a distinct variety. . . . The forests of 

 Malabar ... are for the most part exceedingly well stocked with 

 . . . gaur." 



Morris remarks (19356, p. 227) : "The new experimental meas- 

 ure for the compulsory inoculation of village cattle in the Kol- 

 legal and North Coimbatore Divisions should keep bison com- 

 paratively free from rinderpest, and it is a measure that I should 

 like to see carried out in other districts where bison occur." 



The Chief Conservator of Forests of Madras writes (in litt., 

 November, 1936) : "No immediate danger of extinction. In any 

 numbers only in the Government Reserved Forests. . . . The bag 

 is limited with regard to number, size and sex. Steps against the 

 spread of Rinderpest to Bison are being taken by inoculating 

 domestic animals." 



Salim Ali (1935, pp. 231-238) contributes the following informa- 

 tion concerning Hyderabad State: 



The forests of the Eastern and Western Circles . . . contain some gaur. . . . 

 The shooting of ... gaur has been totally prohibited for some years past, 

 owing to which they have, for the time being, been saved from extinction. . . . 



There were a few herds of gaur in Sirpur-Tandur in the 1890's. One whole 

 herd was reported to have perished from foot-and-mouth disease at Manikgarh. 

 These animals are now very scarce .... Inspite, however, of the total pro- 

 hibition of the killing of these bovines, I came across more persons than 

 one who boastfully claimed to have shot them in recent years! . . . 



Large tracts of game country have been known to be cleared by rinderpest 

 and foot-and-mouth disease contracted from infected cattle left to graze in 

 forests inhabited by wild animals. Measures should be enforced that as 

 soon as the first signs of an outbreak of these epidemics are detected in village 

 cattle, they should be prevented from being let loose in Government forests 

 containing game. One epidemic of this sort, as is well known, will do damage 

 from which it will be difficult for game to regain its position for years 

 afterwards. Often the damage is irreparable, and in many cases the serious 

 diminution, or even complete extinction, of bison and buffalo in certain 

 areas can be traced directly to disease contracted in this way from domestic 

 cattle. 



The Chief Conservator of Forests of Mysore writes (in litt., 

 May, 1937) : "Former and present range: in all the high forests in 

 the Districts of Mysore, Kassan, Kadur and Shimoga. Seems to 

 be no diminution in numbers. Economic use: skin, horn and flesh. 

 Protected by the Game Regulations." 



Traill refers (1824, p. 340) to the Gaur's former abundance 

 at the type locality in the Sarguja Tributary States: "So numer- 

 ous are they on Myn Pat, that, in one day, the hunting party 

 computed that not less than 80 gours had passed through the 

 stations occupied by the sportsmen." 



