BOVID.E. MAMMALIA. Bovine. 



161 



but with no better result. Six several times at the 

 least, did I repeat the dose ; and though on each occa- 

 sion the ball told loudly on the animal's body, neither 

 it nor any one of the herd, strange as it may appear, 

 budged an inch ! They seemed to be chained to the 

 spot by some invisible power, eying me all the while 

 with an ominous and sinister look. Their strange and 

 unaccountable bearing, puzzled me beyond measure. I 

 expected every instant to see them charge down upon 

 me. But even had this happened though I am free 

 to confess I felt anything but comfortable my personal 

 safety would not, perhaps, have been much endangered, 

 as by ascending the tree against which I was leaning, 

 I should have been out of harm's way. However, I 

 was not driven to this extremity ; for, whilst about 

 to ram down another ball, the whole herd suddenly 

 wheeled about, and with a peculiar shrieking noise, 

 tails switching to and fro over their backs, and heads 

 lowered almost to the ground, they made off at a furi- 

 ous pace." From an examination of the ground where 

 they stood, and by information received from the bush- 

 men, Mr. Andersson subsequently ascertained that two 

 of the animals had been mortally wounded. 



THE INDIAN BUFFALO (Bubalus arnd) is another 

 huge species, the body measuring ten and a half feet 

 from the extremity of the muzzle to the root of the 

 tail. In the wild state it is called the Arna ; but the 

 tame variety, so common throughout India, is termed 

 the Bliainsa. The wild buffalo lives in large herds, 

 and inhabits the marshy swamps and low grounds in 

 the immediate neighbourhood of large forests. It is 

 readily recognized by the uniform shortness of the tail ; 

 by the tufts of hair which protect the forehead and 

 knees ; and chiefly by the enormously developed horns, 

 which are particularly long and directed backwards in 

 one variety, and much curved and spread out laterally 

 in another. Like its congeners, the Arna is celebrated 

 for its ferocity. " He seems to look with disdain on 

 every living object, and to rely on the great strength 

 he possesses to overthrow whatever may be opposed 

 to his rage. The smallest provocation irritates him 

 incredibly ! And such is his courage that he will 

 sometimes even attack a group of elephants going 

 for fodder. I do not think," says Captain Thomas 

 Williamson, "there can be a more menacing object 

 than a single wild buffalo disturbed from wallowing in 

 the mud." This is a propensity to which they are 

 very much given ; and it is one which, associated with 

 certain external characters such as the thickness of 

 the skin, its scanty covering of hair, &c. serves to 

 demonstrate a partial alliance of the buffaloes to the 

 true pachydermatous mammalia. We cannot here, 

 however, enlarge upon this topic. In the wild state 

 the Indian buffalo proves a most terrible opponent, 

 not only to the elephint, but to the tiger also. One of 

 the principal sources of entertainment given on anni- 

 versary celebrations and such like occasions by the 

 Indian families of distinction, has ever consisted in 

 affording a display of the cruel ferocity of the tiger and 

 buffalo. We have neither space nor inclination to 

 describe these desperate encounters at any length ; but 

 we quote a few observations in order more particularly 

 to show the behaviour of the animal under considera- 

 Vou I. 



tion. " The buffalo, on entering the area, smells the 

 tiger, and becomes instantly agitated with eagerness. 

 His eyes sparkle with fury, as they quest around for 

 the skulking enemy, which is generally attacked the 

 instant it is distinguished. The buffalo, shaking his 

 head and raking the ground for a few seconds with his 

 foot, places himself hi the posture of attack ; and with 

 his face brought parallel to the surface, his horns 

 pointing forward, and his tail indicating both his deter- 

 mination and his vigour, rushes forward at his full 

 speed." Such is the attitude this beast usually assumes 

 when charging an enemy ; and we can readily under- 

 stand the amount of presence of mind necessary for 

 any human being who may chance to become an object 

 of resentment. A remarkable display of this mental 

 discipline is recorded by Captain Williamson, in the 

 case of a Dr. Knight, when out shooting in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Daudpore. " A buffalo bull, which was 

 at a considerable distance, after shaking his head and 

 stamping with his fore-foot, at length fairly made at the 

 doctor, who was fortunately provided with an excellent 

 rifle, of a large bore. The doctor, knowing what sort 

 of a business it was likely to prove if he awaited the 

 buffalo's arrival, mounted a smart tanian or hill pony, 

 which was led by his syce or groom, and made oS 

 towards a very heavy cover, and had time to conceal 

 himself. The buffalo passed on after the doctor, who 

 did not fail to give Punch (which was the horse's 

 name) every provocation to exertion. His speed did 

 not, however, equal that of his pursuer, which, though 

 appearing to labour much, took immense strides, and 

 was fast coming up. The doctor, finding it impossible 

 to escape in this way, reined up suddenly, and dis- 

 mounted. He had scarcely time to turn his horse's 

 flank, and to level his rifle over the back of the saddle, 

 before the buffalo, being within the usual distance, 

 lowered his head and commenced the charge. The 

 doc"tor, who was a remarkably good shot, fired, and 

 happily lodged the ball between the horns of the ani- 

 mal ; which, though killed outright, did not drop until 

 within three or four yards of Punch's side." In con- 

 clusion, we may remark that the female Arna, after a 

 gestation of ten months, produces one or two calves in 

 the middle of summer. The tame buffalo, introduced 

 into Italy so early as the seventh century, is a true 

 variety of this species. As a beast of burden it pos- 

 sesses numerous advantages over the solidungulate 

 horses, being able to traverse muddy swamps two or 

 three feet in depth with comparative facility. This 

 animal is also much valued for its strong leathery hide; 

 but as a source of food it is much inferior to that of 

 ordinary cattle. 



THE ZEBU (Bos Indicus) is one of those animals 

 with whose existence every reader of oriental history 

 is familiar. Regarded with veneration, and even wor- 

 shipped, the Zebu, or Brahmin bull, seems to lead a 

 happy life ; wandering to and fro from village to plain, 

 grazing where it will, or receiving the votive offerings 

 of the devout. Even its excrement is esteemed sacred; 

 the dried dung being used for fuel in cooking food 

 upon which it is supposed by the natives to exert some 

 beneficial influence and also employed in deciphering 

 objects on their filthy walls. The Zebu is easily recog- 



