316 Ungulata. 



with a sharply defined line of demarkation. The Buffalos 

 found in the Congo district (Bos-centralis) are larger in 

 size and have much flatter horns than the (Bos-pumilis.) 



The Common, or Indian Buffalo, (Bos-bubalus), dif- 

 fers from all the African species in appearance. It is 

 larger, has a much longer head, and smaller ears; the 

 horns are very large and flattened, tapering gradually 

 from the root to the tip, and being much longer and thin- 

 ner in the cows than in the bulls. Lydecker says; that 

 a skull of this species in the British Museum, has horns 

 measuring twelve feet and two inches from tip to tip 

 along the outer curve; and he also tells of a specimen 

 measured by General Kinlock, that stood five feet high, 

 had a girth of eight feet and three inches, and was nine 

 feet and seven inches long from the end of the nose to 

 the root of ■ the tail, the tail measuring three feet and 

 eleven inches more; the horns on this animal, along the 

 greater curve, measured eight feet and three inches. 



The hair on the Common Buffalo is short and scanty, 

 slightly longer on the head, shoulders and front of neck 

 than on the rest of the body, and almost black in color. 

 The Asiatic Buffalo are further distin-guished from the 

 African species, by having the hair on the front part of 

 the back directed forward, as well as by a less thickly 

 fringed beard, and more elongated and narrower heads. 

 The general color of this species is ashy black, although 

 the legs are whitish and sometimes the domesticated 

 animals are pure white below the knees. The wild 

 Indian Buffalo is rarely found in the open plains, and 

 its habitat is generally in tall grass jungles, of such height 

 and depth, that General Kinlock in referring to them 

 writes: "Frequently, although a herd of Buffalo may be 

 aroused within a score of yards, the waving of the grass, 

 and perhaps the glint of a polished horn tip, is the only 

 ocular evidence of the presence of these animals. The 

 nearly noiseless tread may be caused by other animals; 

 and where the horns have not been seen, it is only by the 

 strong sweet smell — similar to, but much more powerful 

 than that of cows — that Ave can be absolutely certain of 

 what is in front of us." This species feed chiefly on grass, 

 are not shy,, and are always seen in herds. The calves 

 are born in summer, sometimes two at a time. In walk- 



