SAViEUa 0ATJEU8. 305 



deep bowery jungle, and deliberately quarter himself on the cultivation 

 of the adjacent villages. The villagers though ready to assist Europeans 

 in the slaughter of bison, ■will not themselves destroy them, (the inviola- 

 bility of the cow extending to the bison,) and so bold does this freebootihg 

 animal become in consequence that he has been known to drive the ryots 

 from the fields, and deliberately devour the produce. But in general it 

 is a timid animal, and it is difficult to get within gun shot of them." 



The same observer also remarks : " The bison ordinarily frequents the 

 bijls, seeking the highest and coolest parts, but during the hottest weather, 

 and when the hills are parched by the heat, or the grass consumed by fire, 

 the single families in which they commonly range the hills, congregate 

 into large herds, and strike deep into the great woods and valleys ; but 

 after the first showers, and when verdure begins to re-appear, they again . 

 disperse and range about freely. In wet and windy weather they again 

 resort to the valleys to escape its inclemency, and also to avoid a species 

 of fly or gnat, which harasses them greatly. In the months of July and 

 August they regularly descend to the plains for the purpose of licking the 

 earth impregnated with natron or soda, which seems as essential to their 

 well doing as common salt is to the domestic animal when kept in hilly 

 tracts." 



The breeding season appears to be in the cold weather, and the young 

 are bom from June to October, the greatest number in August. The old 

 male drives the others from the herd at the breeding season, and the 

 single ones seen in the jungle are young males of this descriptiop, and it iB 

 probable the very old bulls are sometimes expelled also by younger and 

 stronger males. The period of gestation is said to be the same as with 

 the cow or buffalo. Hodgson was informed that it was longer. 



The Gaur is, in general, one of the most timid and wary of animals, and 

 requires to be stalked most carefully. Where the hills are grassy, with 

 tracts of dense forest, they may be discovered occasionally, early in the 

 morning, feeding outside the forest, or even lying down in pretty close 

 proximity however to the wood, and if very carefully approached against 

 the wind, and perfectly noiselessly, the sportsman may get a favorable 

 shot. Now and then too they are stalked in the depth of the forest, a good 

 tracker following them to their mid-day lair. When disturbed the first 

 who perceives the intruder stamps loudly with his foot to alarm the rest, 

 and the whole rush through the forest breaking down every obstacle, and 

 forcing their way with a terrible crash. When suddenly approached in 



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