ro8 THE INDIAN FAUNA 



country, though in the wilder parts of its range it occasionally grazes in cornfields. 

 It feeds principally on grass, including sprigs of bamboo, but will not touch 

 bamboo-leaves, although it eats the leaves and even the bark of other trees. 

 Early morning and early evening are its chief feeding times ; and it drinks and 

 rests during the day. 



Gaur are excellent climbers, descending and ascending the steepest slopes with 

 the greatest ease. Like most large Indian animals, they are extremely suspicious 

 of danger, although in wild parts where, as a rule, they are safe from attack, they 

 are not quite so cautious. When wounded they will sometimes turn against man, 

 and solitary bulls have attacked intruders, without being molested. 



The calves, which all have a black stripe down the back, are generally born in 

 August or September, but some as early as April. Gaur have never been known 

 to live in captivity beyond their third year ; and all recent attempts made to 

 domesticate them have failed, though they were undoubtedly domesticated in the 

 mountains between Assam and Burma in former times ; the gayal of this region 

 being a domesticated form of the species. 



The habitat of the Asiatic buffalo (B. bubalis) includes the 

 ' plains of the Bramaputra and Ganges from Assam to Tirhut, from 

 the Terai to Rohilcund in the west, as well as the plains of Midnapur and Orissa 

 near the eastern coast, the eastern side of the United Provinces as far 

 south as the Godaveri and the Pranhita, and perhaps a little beyond. The 

 species is also common in northern Ceylon. As a domesticated animal its area extends 

 into the Malay Peninsula and as far west as Italy ; some of the small Malay forms 

 of the species probably, however, represent local wild races, as is the case with 

 one from Borneo. 



The Asiatic buffalo, especially in old age, is very thinly haired ; its colour is 

 dark ashy grey, almost black, the legs, which are thick" and short, being sometimes 

 white. The animal is of heavy build, and has large hoofs, a rather short tail, a 

 large wide muzzle, and a long- head which is carried low. The forehead is com- 

 paratively flat, and the large and angulated horns are black in colour. Two 

 distinct types of horn — the one sharply and regularly curved, and the other 

 extending straight outwards for a considerable distance — exist, these representing 

 either distinct local races or dimorphic phases of the species. Apart from this, a 

 pale brown variety occurs in Assam. 



The height of the typical race of this Indian buffalo is about 64 inches; 

 the length of the head and body 9 feet 7 inches ; and that of the tail 47 inches. 

 The horns may reach a length of 79 inches measured along the curve. The wild 

 buffalo is generally found in marshy country, where it frequents grass-jungle, 

 although it sometimes inhabits open plains or low scrub-jungle, and very rarely 

 forests. It associates in rather small herds and feeds principally on grass, 

 grazing in the mornings and evenings, and resting in the high grass during 

 the day. By no means shy, and not avoiding the neighbourhood of man, the 

 buffalo often inflicts great damage on crops, a herd, or even a solitary bull, some- 

 times taking possession of a field, and keeping out the rightful owner. Al- 

 though an old solitary bull will occasionally attack a human being without 

 provocation, a herd will rarely rush at an intruder, unless he takes to flight. The 



