1324 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIJETl, Vol. XXI. 



the herd by an older and stronger bull, and so forced to come to the 

 village cattle for companionship ? " 



I make no doubt that this is exactly what has occurred. I have known of 

 three similar cases, two of Tsine consorting with tame catble, and one of a 

 Gaur which had attached itself to a herd of tame Mithan [Bibos frontalis). 

 All three were young bulls — I have also heard of an old bull Tsine which 

 was supposed to frequent cultivation in pursuit of tame cattle ; bat as my 

 informant was a Burman it is possible that he may have been deceived by 

 the size of animal into thinking it an old bull. An old bull Tsine shot by 

 me was said to be this very beast, but I always had my doubts on the 

 subject. His tracks were found some miles from the nearest cultivation 

 and he was killed in dense Bamboo jungle. Still he may have consorted 

 with tame cattle from time to time and the fact that he was well past his 

 prime lends colour to the supposition. As all sportsmen know who have 

 hunted Gaur and Tsine frequently, it is by no means an uncommon 

 occurrence to come across quite young bulls leading a solitary existence, 

 and the only explanation that presents itself is that they have been driven 

 from the herd by the master bull. One would naturally expect, therefore, 

 that when Tsine are found consorting with tame cattle they would be 

 young buUs, or very occasionally old bulls past their prime. The sexual 

 instinct would naturally be stronger in young bulls than in animals past 

 their prime, and the former would also be less shy and wary than the old 

 stagers. At the same time it is conceivable that in the case of very old 

 bulls driven from the herd by stronger rivals, the sexual instinct would in 

 some cases assert itself and the animal, debarred from consorting with its 

 own kind, would occasionally take refuge in an artificial existence rather 

 than become a recluse for good. Such cases, if they occur at all, must be 

 of rare occurrence, and it would be interesting to have authenticated data 

 on the subject. I do not know of any case of a bull in its prime — whether 

 Gaur or Tsine — consorting with tame herds of Mithan or cattle, and it 

 would seem to be extremely unlikely that any such could occur. My own 

 theory is that when such animals take to a solitary existence they do so 

 from choice, and merely for the time being. It was once my good fortune 

 to shoot an erstwhile solitary bull Tsine while with a herd which he had 

 joined on the day he was killed. This beast was a bull in his prime with 

 a very fine head, showing no signs of advanced age. He had merely 

 joined a herd when it suited him to do so. It may be asked why such an 

 animal finding itself near a herd of village cattle should not join them as 

 a younger beast occasionally does. The obvious reply is that the younger 

 animal having been driven from a herd of his own kind is faced with two 

 alternatives — either to remain solitary until old enough to take possession 

 of a herd or to consort from time to time with tame cattle. The older 

 beast on the other hand can appreciate a herd whenever inclined to do so ; 



