218 THE OX. 



Of Buffaloes in the state of nature, there seem to be more 

 than one species which have not been sufficiently described. 

 One of these, inhabiting the forests of India, is of great size 

 and strength, with horns of enormous length. No live speci- 

 men of this animal has yet been brought to Europe, but the 

 head and horns have been obtained, and are to be found in 

 various museums in England. The horns are of a crescent 

 form, and have been obtained six feet in length, measuring a 

 foot and a half in circumference at the base, and covering 

 from point to point a space of ten feet. The skin of this ani- 

 mal is covered with hair, in which respect it differs from 

 others of the genus, and the tail extends no lower than the 

 hock. It is surprising that various naturalists should main- 

 tain that this species is identical with the Common Buffalo. 

 The widest differences of external form must be disregarded 

 in discriminating species, if such an opinion can be sustained. 

 This gigantic creature has been seen and killed by British 

 sportsmen, and is certainly distinct from the Common Buf- 

 falo. He is the Bos Ami of Shaw ; the Gigantic Arnee of 

 travellers and writers. Another variety of Arnee is more 

 abundant, and congregates in herds. His horns are very 

 long, and have likewise a crescent form. Droves of them 

 are to be seen floating in the Ganges, suffering themselves 

 to be carried by the current to the creeks and islands where 

 they feed. But whether this creature differs from the other 

 in any other respect than age, has not been determined. 



The COMMON BUFFALO, Bos bubalus, Linn., inhabits the 

 marshy forests of India. These creatures are found, both in 

 the wild and the tame state, throughout Hindostan and other 

 countries of the East. They run with their heads held in 

 a horizontal position, so that their horns rest upon -their 

 shoulders. Though more or less independent in their habits, 

 they yet assemble in herds for mutual protection, or when in 

 search of food. They avoid the short herbage of hills, pre- 

 ferring the coarser plants of moist woods and marshy plains. 

 They delight in water : they float upon the current, and cross 



