182 



UNGULATES. 



of Europe was probably white mixed with reddish brown ; and the fact that the 

 calves of all the three species of the present group are reddish brown points to the 

 conclusion that this was the ancestral coloration. Now the fact that the female 

 banting permanently retains this ancestral coloration, which is transient in the 

 gaur and gayal, indicates that the present species is a less specialised form than 

 either of the other two ; the dark colour being acquired only in the male sex. 



^7- 





\, 



&? r 





\ 



THE BANTING (^5 nat. size 



Habits. 



This is confirmed by the structure of the banting, which departs less widely from 

 that of the typical oxen than is the-case with the other two species of this group. 

 Although the accounts of the habits of the banting are not very 

 full, yet it appears that in these respects this animal is very similar 

 to the gaur. Mr. Blanford suggests, however, that from its relatively longer legs 

 the banting is less addicted to climbing among rocky hills than are either of the 

 other members of the group, and that it is accordingly more restricted to the plains 

 of tall grass. The domesticated race breeds freely with the Indian humped cattle. 



