THE BUFFALO. . 201 



pampered by every luxury, aud never opposed in any wish or caprice 

 which it may form. A Brahmin Bull will walk along the street with 

 a quaintly dignified air, inspect anything and anybody that may excite 

 his curiosity, force any one to make way for himself, and if he should 

 happen to take a fancy to the contents of a fruiterer's or greengrocer's 

 shop will deliberately make his choice and satisfy his wishes, none dar- 

 ing to cross him. The indulgence which is extended to this animal is 

 carried to so great a height that if a Brahmin Bull chooses to lie down 

 in a narrow lane, no one can pass until he gets up of his own accord. 



The Buffalo is spread over a wide range of country, being found in 

 Southern Europe, North Africa, India, and a few other localities. 



The Buffalo {Bubalus bufelua). 



This animal is subject to considerable modifications in external 

 aspect, according to the climate or the particular locality in which it 

 resides, and has in consequence been mentioned under very different 

 names. In all cases the wild animals are larger and more powerful 

 than their domesticated relations, and in many instances the slightly 

 different ^hape and greater or lesser length of the horns, or the skin 

 denuded of hairs, have been considered as sufficient evidence of separate 

 species. 



In India the long, smooth-horned variety chiefly prevails, and is 

 found in tolerable profusion. This animal frequents wet and marshy 

 localities, being sometimes called the Water Buffalo on account of its 

 aquatic predilections. It is a most fierce and dangerous animal, savage 

 to a marvellous degree, and not hesitating to charge any animal that 

 may arouse its ready ire. An angry Bufl^alo has been known to attack 

 a tolerably-sized elephant, and by a vigorous charge in the ribs to pros- 

 trate its huge foe. Even the tiger is found to quail before the BuflTalo, 

 and displays the greatest uneasiness in its presence. 



