External Characters of Ruminant Artioduclyhi. Ill 



slioit rations the limnp soon bej^ins to (hviiuUe ntul sag like 

 that of a canu'L Prof. Kwart lias, I believe, HUgf^csted a 

 similar explanation for the aceiiiiuilations of fat on the ruin|t 

 and tail of some breeds of domcstii-ated sheep. 



The coiistiiwtional dilVorciice between Z''biH and British 

 cattle, shown by the capaeity of the former to witlistand the 

 climatic and other conditions even of Brazil and Jamaica, to 

 which British cattle succumb, is precisely what one would 

 expect in the case of two breeds adapted for generations to 

 such widely different physical conditions as are supplied, on 

 tho one hand, by tropical India, and, on the other, by 

 U rnperute Europe. 



lilyth maintained that zebus ditl'er from European cattle in 

 their habitual method of carrying the head when at rest. 

 This is quite true of some breeds ; Gujrati zebus, for example, 

 hold the head somewhat elevated and not in a line with the 

 spine in the attitude characteristic of Dos taurus. The 

 splcndiil appearance of this breed of zebus, indeed, is due to 

 that circumstance, and, when they are startled, to the alert 

 stag-like lift of the head so different from the slouching 

 carriage observable in other cattle. But BIyth's claim does 

 not apply to all breeds. Mysore zebus, for instance, stand 

 with tlie head dejivesscd very much as in ordinary cattle. 

 'Ihese differences between the two breeds »jf zebus are well 

 illustrated on pi. xvii. of Lydekker's book, showing a Mysore 

 cow in repose and a Gujrati bull standing at attention. 



So far, then, as habits are concerned, there appear to me 

 to bo no difficulties in the way of believing in the common 

 oriirin of B. taurus and B. indicus. 



iv. eukoplan and egyptian cattlfc: of suppoiseu 

 Zebu descent. 



Most writers who have written on the subject find evidence 

 ot" zebu blood in many breeds of cattle of Southern and 

 Central Europe, tho character of the horns forming the 

 principal criterion. This claim may be ])eifectly true, but 

 the testimony produced in its support is by no means con- 

 vincing. Take, for example, the Transylvanian bull illus- 

 trated on pi. i. of ijydekker's book. This beast has the long 

 body, straight back, high croup, long forehead covered witli 

 curly hair, short naso-maxillaiy region in the skull, and 

 short thick legs wrapt up in one's conception of British 

 sliorthorns and park bulls. A coniparison between the figure 



