290 On the Flat-horned Taurine Cattle of S. E. Asia. [No. 3, 



With this fact, therefore, to bear in mind, the excessive 

 shyness and wildness of the feral herds known to be descended 

 from domestic humped cattle, and also the fact (which I and 

 others know from experience) of the extreme difficulty there 

 is in subduing the wild propensities of the common Bengal Jun- 

 gle-fowl (Gallits FEKRUGiNETTS v. lankivus) , from which wild 

 species all the races of domestic poultry are as clearly derived 

 as are those of tame Ducks from the Mallard, we are quite justified, 

 I think, in withholding assent to the current opinion that the Gaour 

 (Bos gattbtts), or any kindred species, is incapable of domestication. 



have attempted to realize this branch of commerce, have met with. From the 

 same source tallow might be obtained in abundance, were there only a few specula- 

 tors to inaugurate the trade, and to direct it into the natural channels for its 

 development." 



The making over of a considerable portion of the Tarai region to a Hindu 

 Prince (Jungh Bahadur) will, of course, tend to a further preservation of these 

 feral cattle. Another and more remarkable locality where many beasts of the 

 sort (and of various colours) are little molested, is the churr or alluvial island 

 known as the Siddi churr, lying S. E. of Noacolly in the eastern Sundarbans. 

 On this churr there is no high tree-jungle, and scarcely brushwood enough to 

 afford cover for Tigers, which do not occur on the island. 



It is probable that such feral herds occur also in Africa. Thus, in some 

 " Notes on an Expedition down the Western Coast of Africa to ' the Bijuga 

 Islands,' and the recently discovered river Iiiddafing," by Col. L. Smyth 

 O'Connor, C. B., F. E. G. S., communicated by the Colonial office to the Boyal 

 Geographical Society, and published in its Journal for 1859, p. 384, it appears 

 that in the island of Ovanga " the finest Oxen are wild in innumerable herds." 

 In general, however, the notices of wild cattle in Africa refer either to — 1. 

 Bubaline species, — 2. Gnus (Catoblepas), or ' wilde beests' of the Dutch colo- 

 nists,— 3. Species of the Hartebeest group, as especially Aceonotfs bv/balts 

 in N. Africa, -4. Even the Leucoryx and kindred Antelopes. As an illustration, 

 of this vague application of names, Capt. Lyon mentions a chain of mouniains 

 to the south of Fezzan, named Wadan, " on account of the immense number of 

 Buffaloes to be found there, and which are of three species, viz. the Wadan 

 [Ovis teagelaphus !], an animal of the size of an Ass, having very large (or, 

 as is elsewhere stated, very long, heavy) horns, and large bunches of hair bung- 

 ing from the shoulder, to the length of 18 in. or 2 ft. ; they have very large 

 heads, and are very fierce. The Bogua-el-Weish [Acronottts bubalis ?], which 

 is a kind of Buffalo, slow in its motion, having very large horns, and being 

 of the size of an ordinary cow ; and the White Buffalo [Oetx ieuco- 

 EYx!], of a lighter and more active make, very shy and swift, and not easily 

 procured. The calving-time of these animals is in April or May." (Travels in 

 N. Africa, pp. 76, 271.) Dr. Barth notices the Oris tkagelapht;3 by the 

 name Wadan. " Wild Oxen" of some sort are stated to inhabit the country 

 bordering on the river Koanza. (Joum. Hoy. Geog. Soc. XXIY, 272J Capt. 

 Burton, also, in his recently published work, ' The Lake Begions ot Central 

 Africa,' notices that— " The park-lands of Duthumi, the jungles and forests of 

 Ugogi and Mgunda Mk'hali, the barrens of Usukuma, and the tangled thickets 

 of Ujiji, are full of noble game— Lions and Leopards, Elephants and Rhinoceroses, 

 wild cattle (Buffaloes ?), Giraffes, Gnus, Zebras, Quaggas, and Ostriches." Gnus, 

 at least, being here discriminated. 



