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NATURAL HISTORY. 



The Yak is a native of the high ground of Tibet, where it is rigorously protected by the native 

 government against the foreign sportsman. Its colour is black, except some spots upon the face, which 

 are white or grey. Its tail is often white, as is frequently the long hair tuft on the top of the withers. 

 Its horns reach nearly a yard in length, and are directed outwards, forwards, and then upwards. Its 

 voice is much like that of a Pig, whence the name Grunting Ox, by which it sometimes goes. 



As to the habits of the creature, Captain Kinloch tells us that " the Yak inhabits the wildest and 

 most desolate mountains ; it delights in extreme cold ; and is found, as a rule, at a greater elevation 

 than any other animal. Although so large a beast, it thrives upon the coarsest pasturage, and its 

 usual food consists of a rough, wiry grass, which grows in all the higher valleys of Tibet, up to an 

 elevation of nearly 20,000 feet. . . . Yak seem to wander about a good deal. In summer, the 

 cows are generally to be found in herds varying in number from ten to one hundred, while the old 

 bulls are for the most part solitary or in small parties of three or four. They feed at night or early 



in the morning, and usually betake themselves to some steep and barren hillside during the day, lying 

 sometimes for hours in the same spot." 



THE BUFFALOES.* 



The BUFFALOES have the horns flattened and triangular in section, inclined outwards and back- 

 wards, turning up at the tips. The Common Buffalo is found in Southern Europe, North Africa, and 

 the Indian region. The huge Indian variety, with most lengthy horns, is also known as the 

 Ami. Its horns are elongated and narrow, sometimes reaching six feet and a half in length. It 

 stands nearly or quite six feet at the shoulder, its proportions are bulky, and its general colour dusky- 

 black. It lives in small herds numbering not more than twenty, and solitary bulls are often met 

 with which attack spoilsmen in a most vicious manner without provocation. The Cape Buffalo has 

 shorter horns, expanded at their bases, so that they almost meet in the middle line of the forehead. It 

 is found all over Central and South Africa, and is a formidable animal when wounded, as, quite regard- 

 less of the cloud of smoke which follows the shot aimed at it, it charges right through it, and so does 



* The genus Bubal 'us. 



