THE OX. 



The Common Buffalo ha- 

 been long domesticated in 

 India, whore its services as 

 a beast of draught" ami har- 

 den render it extremely 

 valuable. It differs materi- 

 ally in its general aspect 

 from the common domestic 

 Ox, being a heavier and 

 clumsier, as well as a more 

 powerful animal. Its mas- 

 sive bodj' is supported on 

 short, thick, solid limbs ; the 

 hide is coarse and dense, and 

 covered sparingly with black, 

 wiry hair. The horns lie 

 back, turning up sideways, 

 and often grow to a large 

 size. In its native regions 

 the Buffalo is a formidable 

 animal, and capable of con- 

 tending with the tiger, which 

 it often foils in the deadly 

 strife. When excited, the 

 beast rushes desperately on 

 its foe, strikes him down with its horns or forehead, kneels upon him, crushing in his chest, and then 

 tramples and gores the lifeless body. 



The European Bison is an inhabitant of the great forest of Bialowizza, in Lithuania. Thickets near the 

 swampy banks of rivers are its favorite places of resort. Its strength is said to be enormous, and trees 

 of five or six inches in diameter cannot withstand the thrusts of old bulls. It is afraid neither of a wolf 

 nor of a bear, and assails its enemies both with its hoofs and its horns. An old Bison is a match for four 



wolves. Packs of the latter animal, how- 

 ever, sometimes hunt down even old bulls 

 when alone, but a herd of Bisons has 

 nothing to fear from any rapacious animal. 



Oonibat between a Buffalo and a Tig 



European Bison attacked by Wolves. 

 (110) 



A Buffalo 



