1837.] Note on a Specimen of the Bos Gaums. 223 



of murderers of husbands, murderers of fathers, and murderers of 

 friends, and of those who have committed great sins against the gods 

 and brahmans. The kings that do not regard this kingdom preserv- 

 ing religion of Buddha, shall by it be cut off with all their family and 

 perish in a flaming fire. May this very excellent religion of the people 

 resembling a tree, remain in heaven for ever, and may people in all 

 directions through its remaining, be happy as long as the sea conti- 

 nues to be agitated by marine monsters 



IV. — Note on a Specimen of the Bos Gaurus. By Dr. George Evans, 

 Curator of the Medical College. 



(We are indebted to Lieut. G. Abbott, 15th N. I. for the faithful lithographic 

 representation of this skull in PI. XVI. — Ed.] 



As I have reason to believe that very little is known of the Gaur 

 (Bos Gaurus), or the animal generally considered by our Indian 

 sportsmen as the Bison of the Indian forests and jungles, and think- 

 ing it might prove interesting, I have sent for the inspection of the 

 Members of the Asiatic Society, who may be present at the next 

 ensuing meeting, an exceedingly fine cranium of one of these very 

 rare animals, which has recently been presented to me by a gentle- 

 man residing in the Sambhalpur district. 



For want of good and select specimens of heads of the genus Bos, 

 I am unable to offer any valuable remarks drawn from comparative 

 observation of the osteological structure, so as to determine with ana- 

 tomical precision whether it actually belongs to the Bisontine or Tau- 

 rine group of the genus. I am, however, inclined to assign it to the 

 latter, or otherwise to consider it as an intermediate species connect- 

 ing the two divisions with each other ; and what would seem to favor 

 this intermedial arrangement, is its differing from both in some very 

 essential points, and again corresponding with each in many of its 

 generic relations. 



In the present specimen, which is that of an old male, the forehead 

 is deeply concave, broader than high, (taking the middle of the 

 orbits as the base,) having a strong scabrous arched crista at the 

 summit of the head, where it joins the parietal bone, to which it is 

 firmly accreted : from this and the lateral parts of the frontal bone, a 

 little above the declension of the orbits, proceed strong, thick-set and 

 gently recurvent horns, the points turning towards the face. The 

 orbits are remarkable for their lateral projection from the body of the 

 2 g 2 



