300 BOVIN^E. 



Blyth states that he considers the fighting ram of India to be descended 

 from 0. Vignei (cycloceros}. Hutton argues that the broad-tailed Afghan 

 sheep, ihsDumba, was most probably the sacrificial ram of the ancient Jews. 



Sub-fam. BOVINE, Cattle. 



Horns always in both sexes, usually inclining upwards or forwards ; the 

 osseous core cellular ; muffle large and broad ; tail moderately long ; no 

 eye-pits ; four mammse. 



Of large size, heavy and massive body, limbs stout ; a dewlap often 

 present. The horns are inserted laterally on the apex of the frontal crest. 

 The occipital plane of the skull forms a small angle with the frontal plane. 



This sub-family may be further divided into three groups, the Bison- 

 tine, the Taurine, and the Bubaline. 



The Bisontine group comprise the Bison of Europe and North America, 

 the Musk-Ox of Arctic America, and the Yak of Central Asia. 



The true bison of Europe, Bison urus, or the Aurochs, has a broad 

 forehead, long limbs, and a shaggy mane. It has 1 4 pairs of ribs. It is 

 very savage, and though formerly spread over most of Europe, is now 

 restricted to the marshy forests of Lithuania and a few other parts. The 

 American bison, Bison americanus, is similar to the European animal, but 

 with shorter limbs, and has one more rib, i.e. 15 pairs of ribs. It is 

 called the Buffalo in North America. The Musk-Ox, Ovibos moschatus, is 

 covered with long hair, stands low on its limbs, and has a very strong 

 musky odour. It inhabits the very coldest parts of Arctic America. 



The Yak, Poephagus grunniens, L., is found wild on the other side 

 of the snowy Himalayas, and has lately been shot by several of our sports- 

 men. It is called the JBan-chowr, H. ; or Brong Dhong, in Tibet ; 

 has the hair long, coarse, and shaggy, and the tail thick, shaggy, and black. 

 The horns of a wild Yak measured 2 feet 4| inches round the curve, 1 foot 

 in circumference, and the tips 1 foot 8 inches apart. Another measured 

 head and body 9| feet ; tail 3 feet 4 inches ; height 16-J hands ; horns 

 30 inches; circumference of horns 15. It is found only at considerable 

 elevations, and a wounded bull will occasionally charge his assailant, but 

 in general it will retreat when possible. 



The domestic Yak (Chaori gao, H.) is much used in all the elevated 

 districts of the Himalayas, both as milch-cattle and for burden, and breeds 

 freely with the common cattle. The milk is remarkably rich. It is the 

 best carriage for rugged hill -work, as they can ford a rapid stony torrent 



