THE HOLLOW-HORNED RUMINANTS 



211 



fhotc by Turk & Son 



COW GAYAL 



This animal is not at all dissimilar to the gaur. Its chief points of differ- 

 ence are in the horns and in the colour of its skin 



from the nose to the tail. The colour of 

 the full-grown gaur is dark brown, turning 

 to black; the legs from above the knees 

 and hocks to the hoofs are white, the 

 hair being short and fine. Its horns are 

 upturned, and tipped with black, with white 

 hair covering the junction on the top of 

 the skull. The cows are much smaller than 

 the bulls, standing about 5 feet high at the 

 shoulder. This species feeds both on grass 

 and on the young shoots of trees and of 

 bamboos. The calves are dropped in August 

 and September. The pure-bred animal does 

 not appear capable of domestication. 



Hunting gaur by tracking in the jungle 

 has long been a favourite sport of Anglo- 

 Indians. General Douglas Hamilton says : 

 " I have killed bulls measuring 6 feet at 

 the shoulder, and the average height of the 

 male is from 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 

 inches. An old bull gaur is a magnificent 

 animal. The normal colour is a brownish black, sometimes in very old specimens almost 

 quite black. The white stockings reach from the hoof to above the knee, and are very 

 conspicuous. When on the Anamalies, I had a grand fight with a big bull. I was out early, 

 and came on the spoor of bison, and soon saw two, one a very large bull. To my disgust he 

 lay down, and was completely covered by creepers and bushes. After a bit I attempted to 

 move to get a better view; but there to my left was a cow bison staring at me. She at once 

 gave the alarm, and I waited for the large bull to rise. This he did so quickly, and disappeared 

 so suddenly, that I only got a snapshot. As I stopped to load, I saw a young calf squatting 

 at the foot of a tree like a hare, intently watching me. I put the rifle down, crept up 

 behind the tree, and suddenly threw myself on the little calf, and managed to get hold of its 

 hind legs, but it got from under me. I managed, however, to tie its fore legs securely by 

 means of some slender stems from the creepers. All this time it continued to bellow and to 

 make a great row, and I fully expected to see the mother come charging down. I went back 

 to the bungalow, and got some men to bring my little captive home. After breakfast I started 

 again, and got on the track of the bison. ... I saw some branches move, and on looking 

 carefully perceived a large bull bison ; but he was among the thick bushes, and I could not 

 see his outline. I guessed as nearly as possible the position of the shoulder, and fired the 

 big rifle at him. He gave a bound forward, and then stopped long enough for me to give him 

 a shot with the other barrel. . . . The next moment I saw the bull standing on the high 

 ground above us. I fired again, and hit him well behind the shoulder. He dashed off, but 

 only went fifty yards, and then stopped. I walked up, thinking to finish him, when he made 

 a fearful rush at me. My man put the double rifle into my hands and then bolted, and I 

 thought it prudent to retire and await my opportunity. But he only moved a few paces 

 forward, and then stopped. Then began a regular siege of his position." The result of the 

 siege was that the bison received four more bullets, charged and routed the hunter twice, 

 and then walked off. It was shot twice more, charged again, and was finally killed by 

 General Hamilton with his hunting-knife tied to a bamboo spear-pole. 



Considering the size and tenacity of life of the gaur, it is rather wonderful that more 

 accidents do not occur in the pursuit of this animal ; but as it lives mainly in thick jungle, 

 where large trees grow* the sportsman has more chance of getting out of sight of a wounded 

 animal than when attacked by the Indian buffalo, which generally haunts jungles of high grass. 



