482 



Family BOVIDJE. 



Horns permanent (non-deciduous), in the majority of the genera 

 present in both sexes, and each composed of a bony core, containing 

 numerous air-cells, encased in a horny sheath. No upper canines. 

 Molars frequently hypsodont. The lateral digits always imperfect, 

 sometimes entirely absent, but generally they are either repre- 

 sented by the hoofs alone, or by the hoofs with a very rudi- 

 mentary skeleton, the phalanges replaced by irregular nodules 



Fig. 158. Crowns of (a) upper and (V) lower second right molars 

 of Bos gaurus, the inner side uppermost. 



of bone. The distal ends of the lateral metapodials wanting. A 

 gall-bladder almost always present. Placenta with numerous 

 cotyledons. 



The Bovidce, or hollow-horned Euminants (Cavicornia), are a 

 very extensive family, containing all cattle, goats, sheep, and true 

 antelopes, and they are distributed throughout Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, and North America. The following genera occur within 

 Indian limits : 



A. Horns smooth, or closely, irregularly, and trans- 

 versely wrinkled. 



a. Horns in both sexes, not differing 1 much in size ; 



inserted far apart, at extremities of vertex. 



Size of animal large Bos. 



b. Horns in both sexes, inserted near together. 

 a'. Horns large in males, small in females. 



a". Males inodorous : horns curved at sides 



of head Ovis. 



b". Males odorous : horns ascending, spiral or 



scimitar-shaped CAPHA. 



b'. Horns small (not longer than head) in both 



sexes and not differing much in size. 



a". Males odorous : horns angulate in front . . HEMITRAGUS. 

 b". Males inodorous : horns not angulate. 



o 3 . Suborbital glands present NKMORH^EDUS. 



b 3 . No suborbital glands CEMAS. 



c. Horns in males only, not so long as head. 



a'. Size large : male with 2 horns ; a long tail . . BOSELAPHUS. 



