302 FAMILY BOVID^E ; BRAHMIN OX. 



however, are so remarkable as the Zebu or Brahmin Ox, dis- 

 tinguished by the large fatty hump which it carries on its back ; 

 this breed is spread over India, China, and the Indian islands, 

 and also inhabits Madagascar and the eastern coast of Africa. 



FIG. 154. ZBBU OR BRAHMIN Ox. 



Various races of this animal, differing in size from that of our 

 largest cattle, to that of a young calf, are found in these 

 countries ; they are extremely docile, and are subservient to the 

 same uses in their native climates as those to which we put the 

 Ox in this country ; the larger breeds surpass ours in strength, 

 and are far more active. The hump increases very much in 

 those individuals which are plentifully supplied with food, and 

 lead an indolent life ; whilst it diminishes in those which are 

 harder worked and poorly fed. There is a doubt amongst 

 Naturalists, whether the Zebu is of the same original stock 

 with the domestic Ox, or of a different species ; but the former 

 is probably the case. 



270. The history of the Human race seems to show, that it 

 is to central Asia, rather than to the wild forests of central 

 Europe, that we are to look for the original types of our domes- 

 ticated races of animals. Nevertheless some Naturalists are 



