Wilson, Biology of cattle. 041 



rated into a genus called the Gnus. Being peculiar animals 

 looking as compounded of various animals, their home is Africa. 

 One called the brindled Gnu or horned horse. From having 

 bodily similarity to this animal. When exhibited in Great Britain, 

 forming an object, of much interest. Then we have the Goat 

 Genus of which the wild Goat Copra Aegagrus appears in 

 the mountains of various countries. They live on peculiar plants. 

 From them we have an interesting list of tarne ones. Being of use 

 to us in various ways. Then we have the Ibex Species inhabiting 

 the highest ground of our lofty mountain chains. The maned one 

 inhabits Africa, the Caucasian one Europe. Then we reach 

 the S h e e p which appear in the wild State in many parts of the 

 World, the argali or wild sheep of Siberia, the Corsican 

 Moufflon, the American Mufflon and the African Mouff- 

 1 o n among the Number, from which have arisen more varie- 

 ties in domestication than any ruminant. And have spread 

 over a very wide area. Being of use to man as food and in 

 producing clothing. In fact appearing perhaps beyond the ränge 

 of our subject in cold climates even being found in as warm. 

 We now find the ox Bos taurus at the lower end of the Rumi- 

 natia order. In this as known as cattle we have the most useful 

 of any one genus of animals which the World contains. In the 

 wild state we have the European b i s o n. Which once occupied 

 the whole of temperate Europe. But had gradually to find re- 

 fuge in various ont of the way corners as civilisation advanced. 

 Some attributed to this one the origin of our domestic cattle. But 

 said to be erroneously. The American b i s o n which inhabits all the 

 temperate parts of North America reproduces with the dome- 

 stic cow. The Indian b u f f a 1 o, originally of India and brought into 

 Egypt, Greece and Italy during the middle ages. They have 

 spread into many races, there is also theJungleOx of India. 

 Like the last mentioned more or less domesticated. Then the 

 Y a k or grunting ox, with some part, resembling the horse, it 

 appears to have its original home in Thibet. But some doubts 

 expressed about it. Then the Cape Buffalo, with its very large 

 horns, being itself large and very feroceous hailing from the 

 woods of Caffraria. — There are also other Species such as the 

 Short horned buffalo. Being smaller in size and has very long 

 ears. Then we have the Musk ox. It is low standing with long 

 hair which reaches the ground. The tail being very short, it 

 diffuses strongly the musky odour which the others do more or less. 

 It is a native of the coldest regions of North America. 



We will now notice that their is agreat ränge of ruminants 

 before the ox and that except goats and sheep they are generally 

 in the shade, with slight exceptions, probably we should not in- 

 clude goats. But make them answer the others as a whole. It is 

 thus interesting in domestication that the lowest order should pro- 



