410 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



that place, and not being able to procure a male Gayal at 

 Dacca, he directed a common bull of the Deswali breed, or 

 Common Zebu, to be presented to her, which the female 

 received upon being blinded by a cloth thrown over the 

 eyes. The issue was a cow, resembling mostly the Gayal 

 mother; and from that cow, impregnated by a bull of the 

 same common breed, another cow was produced, which also 

 had grown up, and was in calf by a common bull at the 

 date of the letter." 



The Gauvera of Ceylon is likewise a wild ox, dark co- 

 loured, with a high ridge on the shoulders, and white feet; 

 it resides in the woods of the interior, and has been shot by 

 British parties during the war in Candy. These animals 

 appear to form but one intermediate species, between the 

 Bison and the true taurine group, with which it might per- 

 haps be arranged with greater propriety. 



Beside the above existing species, it may be proper to 

 mention the fossil Bisons. 



The Broad-headed Fossil Bison {B. Latifrons) of Dr. 

 Harlan, is described by Baron Cuvier. The skull differs 

 little from that of the Bison, except in its greater dimen- 

 sions ; the forehead is arched, broader than high ; the 

 horns are attached two inches before the line formed by the 

 union of the facial and occipital surfaces, which latter form 

 an obtuse angle ; the plane of the occiput represents a semi- 

 circle ; the horn is twenty-one inches in circumference at 

 its base ; a fragment of this size was found in Kentucky, 

 and similar skulls were discovered near Melnick in Bohe- 

 mia, in Italy, and on the Rhine, in Russia, Siberia, and 

 probably over the whole northern hemisphere. 



The Bos Bornbifrons of the same American author is de- 

 scribed by Mr. Wistar from a skull presented by Mr. Jeffer- 

 son to the American Philosophical Society. The top of the 

 head between the horns is strongly arched and projecting; 

 facial line forming rather an acute angle, with the oc- 



