224 Note on a Specimen of the Bos Gaums. [MarcU, 



os frontis, in which respect the animal bears a marked resemblance 

 to the Cervine race, as also by the pointed form of the nose, both 

 which tend to give a peculiar character and wedge-like form to the 

 head and face. There is also a deviation in the sudden termination of 

 the full labial bones in their progress to the ossa nasi, which I do not 

 observe in the heads of any of such of the domestic species as I have 

 had an opportunity of examining ; or even in those of the several 

 buffaloes in my possession, their attachment being exclusively con- 

 fined to the superior maxillary bones, without having any connection 

 with those of the nose, which latter are large, broad and well arched, 

 affording a very extensive chamber for the free passage of air, and also 

 for the full expansion of the organ of smell. From this conformation 

 I make no doubt that the animal is capable of enduring long-continued 

 exertion ; is possessed of exquisite scent, and that the intonations 

 of the voice are thereby rendered deep, hollow and sonorous. In shorty 

 the whole formation of the head of this colossal bull appears to corre- 

 spond with that of the fossil Urus found in different parts of Europe, 

 and it unquestionably displays a vast extent of power to defend and 

 assault, combined with great personal courage and precision in attack ; 

 and I have no doubt that he must often prove a most formidable 

 antagonist to the tiger, the wild buffalo, and other tenants of his 

 geographical range. 



In looking over the different crania in the Society's museum, I find 

 an imperfect skull (merely horns and forehead) marked "Gaur," which 

 agrees with my specimen only in the shape of the horns, but the 

 forehead is rounded as in the buffalo, and not cristated as in my 

 specimen, which I look upon to be the true Gaur (Bos Gaurus) con- 

 fined to the more sequestered and elevated tracts of Central India ; 

 and the above mentioned, that of the Gayal (B. Gaveeus), wanting the 

 occipital ridge, and dispersed more about the mountainous districts of 

 the eastern provinces, unless indeed it prove to be the female of the 

 one here described : but the propriety of classing even this and the 

 Ydk (Bos PoephagusJ with the Bisons, may be questioned if external 

 similitude has alone led to the arrangement. The only true standard for 

 settling their mutual affinities and establishing their right to be includ- 

 ed under the one or the other of the artificial divisions, which the dif- 

 ference observable in animals of the same genus, constituting varie- 

 ties, has compelled naturalists to resort to, would be a strict inquiry 

 into their individual osteological peculiarities, placing those under 

 the Bisontine group, which, corresponding pretty generally in their 

 external characters with each other, have, like the American Bison 



