488 



VERTEBRATA. 



THE ARNA. 



his attack. Under such a process, it is obvious that these creatures, numerous as they arc, are 

 rapidly being diminished, and the time cannot be remote when they will be, like the Aurochs of 

 Europe, a race of former days, with only a vestige of their countless herds to transmit their sem- 

 blance to succeeding generations. 



It appears that the American Bison is not naturally a very timid or savage brute ; but al 

 present, being constantly harassed by hunters, it is exceedingly watchful, and unless when large 

 herds are together, it can only be approached from the leeward, and under cover. The natural 

 disposition of the animal is to fly from man, but when wounded he turns on his enemy, and is 

 .■dike furious and formidable. The Bison has never been effectually tamed so as to be serviceable 

 ior the use of man. It has been known to breed with domestic cattle, but the offspring was wild, 

 unruly, and impatient of restraint. Specimens of the Bison have been placed in the Zoological 

 < iardens of London, and the Garden of Plants at Paris. 



Subgenus BUFFALO: Bulmlus. — Of this there are several species, distinguished by having 

 harsh, thick hair, almost entirely black, and a forehead rounded and swelling out between the ho 

 which arc more or less flattened, the bases being enlarged and approaching each other. 



The Common Buffalo, B. Buffalus — Bos bubalis of Linnaeus — had its origin in India, when 

 it is extensively distributed. There are two varieties — the tame, called Bhainsa, and the wild, 

 called . Irna, or Amee. The tame one is trained to domestic uses, especially for draught, and is com- 

 monly employed for this purpose. Its milk is little used, and its flesh is rank. It is suited, how- 

 ever, to marshy districts, and on this account has not only been used for centuries in parts of In- 

 dia, but has been distributed over some of the Asiatic islands and portions of Europe, and espe 

 cially in Italy and the Crimea. It thrives in those regions affected by the malaria, and hence 

 has become common in the Roman States as well as in Naples, and the traveler on the Pontine 

 Marshes may see large herds of them feeding and fattening in an atmosphere which is not only 

 deadly to man but poisonous to many brutes. Its color is nearly black, its head is carried low- 

 and its aspect is wild, shy, and sinister. Its temper, however, is tolerably calm, and it worb 

 the plow and cart with docility and energy; it is also sometimes used as a beast of burden, and 

 particularly in countries where the roads are of a muddy and miry nature, in which its natural 

 aptitude and great strength qualify it to move with facility. 



The wild variety, or Arna, which is still common in Continental Asia/inhabits the mm 

 rather than the interior of primeval forests. They never ascend the mountains, but adhere, like - 



