10 



DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



before the glacial period, but it is uncertain whether the do- 

 mestic cattle are descended from this form or from an Asiatic 

 type. Among the most recent investigators on this subject 

 is Kellar. 1 



According to this author the investigations so far indicate 

 that the cattle of Europe are descended from two original 



types or species. 

 One is called Bos 

 sondaicus, the 

 other Bos primi- 

 genius. This 

 author believes 

 cattle were do- 

 mesticated long 

 before the records 

 of history began, 

 while the ances- 

 tors of the present 

 Europeans still 

 dwelt in Asia. The 

 Bos sondaicus, 

 which was the first 

 type domesti- 

 cated, is still rep- 

 resented in Asia 

 by the Banteng 

 or native wild ox, found in small numbers on certain islands 

 of the East Indies. Similar forms are said to be also found 

 in a state of domestication in the same countries. 



These cattle were taken to Europe during the great migra- 



1 Naturgeschichte der Haustiere. 



FIG. 2. 



-Skull of Bos sondaicus (Keller), showing 

 the broad head and short horns. 



