THE GAVAL. 593 



GENUS BIBOS. 



The Gayal, Bibos frontalis, was first scientifically described by Lam- 

 bert in 1802, from a specimen which was sent alive to England. These 

 animals are often tamed by the Hindoos and used as domestic cattle, or 

 for improving the breed of the latter. They are large, powerful animals, 

 standing five feet high, and measuring nearly eleven feet, including two 

 feet and a half of tail. No animal better deserves its specific title, fron- 

 talis or " broad-browed." The unparalleled breadth of the forehead at 

 once strikes the eye. Its body is well proportioned, compact, and pow- 

 erful ; the whole appearance gives an impression of strength and beauty. 

 The head, with its thick muzzle, forms almost a truncated pyramid, the 

 base of which would pass through the roots of the horns and the angles 

 of the under jaw. But the base is not a regular square ; the side be- 

 tween the horns is much longer than the others. The breadth of the 

 forehead is about tu-o-fifths of the length of the head. The horns are 

 very thick, and curve slightly outward and backward. The eyes are 

 small, and placed deep in their sockets ; the ears are upright, and large, 

 and pointed. A small triangular double dewlap springs behind the 

 chin, ending at each jaw. Three or four deep folds of skin separate the 

 head from a thick, hump-like protuberance which covers the whole neck, 

 withers, and half of the spine. The rest of the body is fleshy, the legs 

 strong but well-formed, the hoofs are short, and straight in front, the 

 tail is thin, and ends in a long tuft. A short, thick and shining coat 

 covers the whole body ; it is slightly longer on the throat, and becomes 

 a rich tuft on the tail, and on the fetlocks of the forelegs. The pre- 

 dominant color is deep black, with some white on the throat. The 

 inside of the ear is flesh-color, the horns gray, with black tips The 

 cow is smaller, and more slightly built than the male, and has much 

 shorter horns. 



Some Hindoo tribes regard the Gayal as a sacred animal. It is not 

 slain, but driven into the holy groves. Other tribes, on the contrary, 

 eat its flesh without any compunction, and employ newly-caught ones 

 in bull-fights. The people of Silhoot, Chittagong, and Tepoor possess 

 tame herds of the Gayal, and the English have attempted to introduce it 

 into Bengal. The Gayal lives chiefly in the woody hills which separate 

 Bengal from Arracan. It is a mountain animal, climbing well, and being 

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