OXEN. 



203 



Indeed with some of the specimens from Central Equatorial Africa it is difficult to 

 find constant characters by which they can be distinguished on the one hand from 

 the typical niari, with widely-separated and slightly-flattened horns, and on the 

 other from the northern variety of the Cape buffalo. Hence it is probable that 

 the present species is in reality nothing more than a geographical race of the 

 latter, reduced in size and otherwise modified by the difference in its habitat. We 

 have indications of the commencement of such a modification in the case of the 

 " wood-bison " of North America, and there is no reason why such modifications 



SHORT-HORNED BUFFALO, CONGO VARIETY (-fa nat. size). 



should not have been carried still further in the present instance. Horns of the 

 typical short-horned buffalo range from 11 to 21 inches in length, with a basal 

 girth of from 10 to 13 inches. The short-horned buffalo is found both in the plains 

 and in the mountains of Western Africa, and appears to be far from uncommon. It 

 possesses a speed almost equal to that of the larger antelopes ; and when in thick 

 cover is very difficult to drive out, except with the aid of dogs. Otherwise there 

 does not appear to be anything specially noteworthy in its habits. 



It may be mentioned here that both in Algeria and at the Cape 

 ms ' there are found in the superficial deposits skulls of buffaloes allied to 



