482 



bovid.t:. 



Family BOVIU^. 



Horns permanent (non-deciduous), in the majority of the genera 

 present in both sexes, and each composed of a bony core, containing 

 numerous air-cells, encased in a horny sheath. No upper canines. 

 Molars frequently hypsodont. The lateral digits always imperfect, 

 sometimes entirely absent, but generally they are either repre- 

 sented by the hoofs alone, or by the hoofs M'ith a very rudi- 

 mentary skeleton, the phalanges replaced by irregular nodules 



V 





a h 



Fig. 158. — Crown? of {a) upper and {h) lower second right niolnrs 

 of Bos gaurus, the inner side uppermost. 



of bone. The distal ends of the lateral metapodials wanting. A 

 gall-bladder almost always present. Placenta with numerous 

 cotyledons. 



The Bovuhi', or hollow-horned Ruminants (Ccnncomia), are a 

 very extensive family, containing all cattle, goats, sheep, and true 

 antelopes, and they are distributed throughout Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, and Noi'th America. The following genera occur within 

 Indian limits : — 



A. Horns smooth, or closely, irregularly, and trans- 

 versely wrinkled. 

 a. Horns in both sexes, not differing- much in size ; 

 inserted tar apart, at extremities of vertex. 



Size of animal large Bos. 



h. Ihn-ns in both sexes, inserted near together. 

 a . Horns large in males, small in females. 



a" . Males inodorous : liorns curved at sides 



of head Ovis. 



h" . Males odorous : horns ascending, spiral or 



aciniitar-shaped Cai'UA. 



//. Horns small (not longer than head) in both 

 sexes and not differing much in size. 

 n" . Males odorous : horns angulate in front .. IIkmithagus. 

 b" , Males inodorous : horns not angulate. y- . 



r/\ Ruhorhital glands present Nr,i\ rn nn.HDU0 . J/ Of '■''"■ '^O^'^^^'^ 



l>\ No suborhilal glands (Jkm.as. ^it»A^^>r/iac J. <-t 



c. Horns in mak's c)nly, not so long as head. 



a . Size large: male with 2 horns ; a long lail . . IJosklai'UUs. 



