454 DE. p. CHALMERS MITCHELL ON LOXGEVITY AND 



longevity of the group. The record of a 29 years' duration in 

 the case of a Quagga is therefore quite good, and if it be 

 remembered that the figures include a number of newly imported 

 and young animals, the average duration and viability are both 

 good. On the other hand, they are in accordance with Metchni- 

 koff's views as to the relatively low viability and longevity of 

 animals with capacious hind-guts, for they are not high _ in 

 proportion to the size of the animals and their i-eady submission 

 to captivity. 



Summary of Perissodactyla. 



These animals, in consideration of the ease of procuring suitable 

 food, do not afford evidence of high potential longevity or of great 

 viability in pi'oportion to their size. 



2. Artiodactyla. 



-p No. of Av. clur. Max. dur. 



liOVINiE. Iiidiv. in months, iu montlis. 



Bos indicits {Zehxx) ^ 20 64-5 230 



Bos tcmrus (English Domestic White 13 32 145 



Ox). 



Bison americamcs {American Hison)... 9 70 129 



B. honasus (European „ )-.- 1 14 14 



Poephagus grionniens (Yak) 5 56 107 



Bibos frontalis {Ga,j?d) 5 138 188 



B. gaurus {GunT) 1 30 30 



Buhalus cequinoctialis (E. African 2 57 90 



Buffalo). 



/5. &^t/e?^(S (Indian Buffalo) 1 20 20 



B.cdffer (Cape „ ) 2 118-5 175 



Anoa depressicornis {Krvo&) 2 63'5 126 



AllBovines 61 63-3 230 



According to Metchnikoff, the duration of life in cattle is very 

 short considering their size. The potential longevity is probably 

 not much over 30 years ; at 5 years old they begin to show signs 

 of age and at from 16 to 18 they lose reproductive powers. The 

 records quoted above are wholly in accordance with this estimate ; 

 the maximum duration of nearly 20 years is good, a.nd the average 

 dura,tion is what might be expected reasonably. Throughout the 

 period in question, the cattle were kept in unwarmed shelters, 

 with access to the open air. 



Capt. Flower has no high records. 



"Rtttd a t TXT iE^ ^o- of ^^- <^"''- Max. dur. 



UUBALlNJi:. jj^^i^,_ jj^ months, in months. 



i?'t65aZis 6oseZrt;pA«<s (Bubaline Antelope). 2 115 162 



i). crtfwna (Hartebeest) 3 65 85 



j5. io?Y( (Tora Antelope) 3 55 86 



Z)am(x/'iscMS «i&i/'ro??s (Bless-bok) 5 120 133 



B . fygargus {Y^QV&,Q-\)oV) 2 28 55 



Connochcetes gnu (White-tailed Gnu). 4 102"5 164 



AllBubalines 19 83 162 



