<^QO NEV/ SPECIES OP OX. 



was explained by the plirase, ' cattle of the mountains.' 

 It had been obscurely noticed (ifindeed the sfime species of 

 ox be meant,) by Knox, in his historical relation of Ceylon*', 

 and it has been imperfectly described by Captain Turner, in 

 his journey through Boofimf. Herds of this species of cat- 

 tle have been long possessed by many gentlenaen, in the east- 

 ern districts of Be)jg,ali and also in other parts of this pro- 

 vince: but no detailed account of the animal, and of its ha- 

 bits, has been yet published in India. To remedy this de- 

 iicieney. Dr. Roxburgh undertook, at my solicitation, to 

 , describe the gai/dl, from those seen by him in a herd belong- 

 ing to the Governor General. Dr. Buchanan has also 

 obligingly communicated, bis observations on the same cat- 

 tle: and both descriptions are here laid before the society ; 

 ■with information obtained from several gentlemen at Tipnra, 

 Silhet, and Chatgaon, relative to the habits of the animaL 

 A distinct spe- From the information which was first received, it was sup- 

 '"'^^' posed that the gayul would not engender either with the buf- 



falo, or with ihe^ common bull and cow, and must therefore 

 constitute a distinct species in every system of classification. 

 Although this is contradicted by the correcter information 

 i>ow obtained, yet on account of the considerable,' and ap- 

 parently permanent, difference between the common cow 

 and the gaydl, this ought still, perhaps, to be considered as 

 a distinct species, rather than as a variety. 



' The gayul,^ says Dr. Roxburgh, * is nearly of the size 

 TN=-.--ipti'in by and shape of the £■«§■/«/* bull. It has short horns, which 

 i>r. Roxburgh. ^^^ distant at their bases, and rise in a gentle curve directly 

 out and up : a transverse section, near the base, is ovate ; the 

 thick end of the section being on the inside. The front is 

 broad, and crowned with a tuft of lighter coloui-eu, long, cur- 

 ved hair. The dewlap is deep and pendent. It has no 

 niane, nor hump; but a considerable elevation over the 

 (vithers. The tail is short; the body covered with a toler- 

 jible coat of straight, dark-brown hair: on the belly, it is 

 lighter coloured; and the legs and face are sometimes 

 white.' 



Doctor Buchanan thus describes it: 



• P. 21. t Embassy to Tibety p. 160. 



The 



