SKULLS OF OXEX FROM XEWSTEAD. 277 



the Newsteacl skull (text-fig. 84) differs pi-ofounclly from that of 

 the more highly specialized Urus skull represented in text-fig. 83. 



The Horn-cores. — The horn-cores of the Newstead skull, 

 characterized by a deeply notched occiput, are pyriform as in 

 Bos aciitifrous — they measure at their origin 60 mm. from above 

 downwards and 45 mm. from before backwards. At a distance 

 of 30 mm. fi-om the beginning of the gi-ooved surface they 

 measure 56 mm. by 42 mm. The fragments of the horn-cores 

 present (text-fig. 86, A) are convex above, grooved in front and 

 below, and extend outwards and slightly forwards. 



The Teriijwrcd Fossa.^ln the Urus skull figured the temporal 

 fossa is completely closed behind (text-fig. 81) by a wall of bone 

 which helps to support the horn-core (text-fig. 83) ; the external 

 opening of the fossa, rounded and contracted behind, is pointed 

 in front and arched above (text-fig. 81). In the Newstead skull 

 with short premaxillse and a notched occiput, the temporal fossa 

 is wide behind, where it opens on to the occiput, wider than in 

 the Urus in front, and the upper border is sinuous (text-fig. 86, B) 

 as in the Bison. 



The Base of the Cranium. — In the Urus the anterior as well as 

 the posterior tubercles are well developed, but in the Newstead 

 skull (text-fig. 84), as in Bos acutifrons, the anterior tubercles are 

 small and inconspicuous. 



In having the lower jjart of the occiput separated from the 

 iipper by deep notches ujider the horn-cores the Newstead skull 

 (text-fig. 84) decidedly diflers from Bos primigenias (text-fig. 83) 

 and also, though to a less extent, from Bos namadicus. Again, in 

 having the occipital crest overhanging the true occiput, the 

 Newstead skull differs from the Gaur and Banting, 



If Lydekker is right in assuming that the occipital crest in 

 Bos acutifrons " extends upwards to within a short distance of 

 the vertex cranii so that the supra-cristal portion of the occipital 

 region is reduced to a very narrow band '' *, the Newstead skull 

 also differs from Bos acutifrons. If, however, in Bos acutifrons 

 the mesial depression immediately below the vertex is supra- 

 cristal, the Newstead skull with a deeplj' notched occiput may be 

 regarded as belonging to a race allied to, or descended from. Bos 

 acutifrons of the Punjab Siwaliks. 



It will doubtless be asked. Are any of the modern breeds of 

 cattle characterized by short premaxilla? and an occiput of the 

 primitive type represented in text-fig. 84 ? As it happens, the 

 skull (text-fig. 87) of the white " wild " Cadzow Ox with short 

 premaxilhe (text-fig. 75) has an occiput (text-fig. 87, B) of the 

 acutifrons type, and otherwise resembles several of the Newstead 

 skulls. The skull of the Cadzow Ox seen from behind looks 

 almost as if it were intermediate between the Bison (text-fig. 88) 

 and a Urus with fairly deep notches (text-fig. 85). 



At one time the Hamilton Park herd of white cattle consisted 



* Memoirs of the Greological Survey of India, ser, x. vol. i. p. *J7. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1911, No. XIX, 19 



