

RUMINANTIA. 221 



them against the cold ; the horns are converted into powder-flasks ; 

 and the ribs of the animal, strengthened by some of the stronger 

 fibres, are made to furnish the bow, by which others of the spe- 

 cies are to be destroyed. Catlin says, that "there are, by a fair 

 calculation, more than 300,000 Indians who are now subsisting 

 on the flesh of the buffaloes, and by these animals supplied with 

 all the luxuries of life which they desire, as they know no 

 others." The advance of white population over the regions of 

 the West, bearing with 'them the institutions of civilization is, 

 however, modifying this statement, and gradually contracting 

 the range of the Bison. 



Bubalus Bitffalus, or Bos Bubalus. The BUFFALO of Asia. 



This animal, in its general aspect and carriage, resembles the 

 Bison, or perhaps the Domestic Ox, though larger and stronger, 

 but differs from the Bison in its horns, which are enormously 

 large, bent down and recurved at the tip ; in its ears, which are 

 half the length of the head, and slightly covered with hair; and 

 in the fur, which is rough, irregular and bristly. Of this 

 species, there are two varieties, the B. Arnee, (Shaw,) and the 

 B. Rhainsa. The Arnee is the wild Buffalo of India, found on 

 the margins of old and thick forests; and, like the Rhinoceros, 

 confining itself to the most swampy parts of the region where 

 it dwells. Its horns are often five feet in length, and so in- 

 clined together at the points, as to form a figure somewhat lyre- 

 shaped. It is also remarkable for the shortness of its tail, which 

 reaches no lower than the hock. It is one third larger than the 

 Rhainsa, or tame Buffalo, being ten and a half feet long, and 

 six to six and a half feet high at the shoulders. Its strength is so 

 great, it is a formidable enemy even to the tiger, who shuns an 

 encounter with him ; and such is the power of his charge, that 

 he frequently prostrates a well-sized elephant. The Rhainsa is 

 universal in India and adjacent countries, and was formerly, as 

 now, used as a beast of burden in Egypt, Greece and Italy. In 

 the latter country, it is, on account of its great strength, very use- 

 ful for carrying purposes, especially in marshy and swampy dis- 

 tricts, where the roads are two or three feet deep with mud. 

 The hide of the Asiatic Buffalo is peculiarly thick and strong, 

 and in great request for making harness. 



Bos Gaums, the Gowr, or Gaur, of mountainous parts of Central 

 India. 



This has the hind hoof only half the size of the fore one, 

 the general color is brown, but the legs are white ; the horns are 

 bent downwards at the front ; "the limbs have more of the form 

 of the deer than any other of the bovine genus." It is asserted 



