BOVIDJ!.- 



-MAMMALIA.- 



-B0VID.E. 



l(il 



liut with no better result. Six several times at tlie 

 least, did I repeat ttie dose ; and tliough on each occa- 

 sion the ball told loudly on the animal's body, neitlier 

 it nor any one of the herd, strange as it may appear, 

 budged an inch ! They seemed to be chained to tlie 

 spot by some invisible power, eying me all the while 

 with an ominous and sinister look. Their strange and 

 luiaccountable bearing, puzzled me beyond measure. I 

 expected every instant to see them charge down upon 

 me. But even had tliis happened — though I am free 

 to confess I felt anything but comfortable — my personal 

 safety would not, perhaps, have been much endangered, 

 as by ascending the tree against which I was leaning, 

 I should have been out of harm's way. However, I 

 was not driven to this extremity ; for, whilst about 

 li) ram down another ball, the whole herd suddenly 

 wlieeled about, and with a peculiar shrieking noise, 

 tails switching to and fro over then- backs, and heads 

 lowered almost to the ground, they made off at a furi- 

 ous pace." From an examination of the ground where 

 tliey stood, and by information received from the bush- 

 men, Mr. Andersson subsequently ascertained that two 

 of the animals had been mortally wounded. 



THE INDIAN BUFFALO {Bubalus arna) is another 

 huge species, the body measuring ten and a half feet 

 from the extremity of the muzzle to the root of the 

 tail. In the wild state it is called the Arna ; but tlie 

 tame variety, so common throughout India, is termed 

 the Bhainsa. The wild buflalo lives in largo herds, 

 and uihabits the marshy swamps and low grounds in 

 llio immediate neighbourhood of large forests. It is 

 readily recognized by the uniform shortness of the tail ; 

 liy the tufts of hair which protect the forehead and 

 Icnoos ; and chiefly by the enormously developed horns, 

 which are particularly long and directed backwards in 

 one variety, and much curved and spread out laterally 

 in another. Like its congeners, the Arna is celebrated 

 for its ferocity. " He seems to look with disdain ou 

 every living object, and to rely on the great strengtli.i 

 he possesses to overthrow whatever may be opposed 

 to his rage. The smallest provocatioir irritates him 

 incredibly !«' And such is his courage that he will 

 sometimes even attack a group of elephants going 

 for fodder. I do not think," says Captain Thomas 

 WiUiamson, " there can be a more menacing object 

 than a suigle wUd buffalo disturbed from wallowing in 

 the mud." This is a propensity to which they are 

 very much given ; and it is one which, associated with 

 certam external characters — such as tlie thickness of 

 the skin, its scanty covering of hair, &c. — serves to 

 demonstrate a partial alliance of the buffaloes to the 

 true pachydermatous mammalia. We cannot here, 

 however, enlarge upon this topic. In the wild state 

 the Indian buBalo proves a most terrible opponent, 

 not only to the elephant, but to the tiger also. One of 

 the principal sources of entertainment given — on anni- 

 versary celebrations and such like occasions — by the 

 Indian families of distinction, has ever consisted in 

 affordmg a display of tlie cruel ferocity of the tiger and 

 buffalo. We have neither space nor inclination to 

 describe these desperate encounters at any length ; but 

 we quote a few observations in order more particularly 

 to show the behaviour of the animal under considera- 

 Voi.. I. 



tion. " The buffalo, on entering the area, smells the 

 tiger, and becomes instantly agitated with eagerness. 

 His eyes sparkle with fury, as they quest aroimd for 

 the skulking enemy, which is generally attacked tho 

 instant it is distuiguished. The buffalo, shaking his 

 head and raking the ground for a few seconds with his 

 foot, places himself in tlie posture of attack ; and with 

 his face brought parallel to the surface, his horns 

 pointing for^vard, and his tail indicatmg both his deter- 

 muiatiou and his vigour, rushes forward at his full 

 speed." Such is the attitude this beast usually assumes 

 when charging an enemy ; and we can readily under- 

 stand the amount of presence of mind necessary for 

 any human being who may chance to become an object 

 of resentment. A remarkable display of this mental 

 discipline is recorded by Captain Williamson, in the 

 ease of a Dr. Knight, when out shooting in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Daudpore. " A buffalo bull, which was 

 at a considerable distance, after shaking his head and 

 stamping with his fore-foot, at length fairly made at tlie 

 doctor, who was fortunately provided with an excellent 

 rifle, of a large bore. The doctor, knowmg what sort 

 of a business it was likely to prove if he awaited the 

 bufl'alo's arrival, mounted a smart tanian or liUl pony, 

 which was led by his syce or groom, and made oft 

 towards a very heavy cover, and had time to conceal 

 himself. The buffalo passed on after the doctor, who 

 did not faU to give Punch (which was the horse's 

 name) every provocation to exertion. His speed did 

 not, however, equal that of his pursuer, which, though 

 appearing to labour much, took immense strides, and 

 was fast coming up. The doctor, fuiding it impossible 

 to escape in this way, reined tip suddenly, and dis- 

 mounted. He had scarcely time to turn his horse's 

 flank, and to level his rifle over the back of the saddle, 

 before the buff'alo, being withm the usual distance, 

 lowered his head and commenced the charge. The 

 doctor, who was a remarkably good shot, fired, and 

 happily lodged the ball between the horns of the ani- 

 mal ; which, though kUled outright, did not drop until 

 within three or four yards ot Punch's side." In con- 

 clusion, we may remark that the female Arna, after a 

 gestation of ten months, produces one or two calves in 

 the middle of summer. The tame buffalo, introduced 

 into Italy so early as the seventh century, is a true 

 variety of this species. As a beast of burden it pos- 

 sesses numerous advantages over tlie solidungulate 

 horses, being able to traverse muddy swamps two or 

 three feet in depth with comparative facility. This 

 animal is also much valued for its strong leathery hide; 

 but as a source of food it is much mferior to that of 

 ordinary cattle. 



THE ZEBTT {Bos Indicus) is one of those animals 

 with wliose existence every reader of oriental history 

 is famUiar. Regarded witli veneration, and even wor- 

 shipped, the Zebu, or Brahmin bull, seems to lead a 

 happy life ; wandering to and fro from village to plain, 

 grazing where it will, or receiving the votive offerings 

 of the devout. Even its excrement is esteemed sacred; 

 the dried dmig being used for fuel in cooking food — 

 upon which it is supposed by the natives to exert some 

 beneficial influence — and also employed in deciijhermg 

 objects on then- filthy walls. The Zebu is easily recog- 



