94 WILD LIFE IN NORTH CANARA. 



ance with tlie bison of south-western 

 India might not unreasonably suppose 

 the animal to be a variety of the wild 

 buffalo or auroch of America ; but there 

 is in fact no resemblance whatever be- 

 tween the two. The Indian bison is as 

 large again as the wild buffalo ; it has 

 a different number of ribs, and a head 

 differently set on; it has no mane, and 

 is beside distinguished by a peculiarity 

 to be found in no other member of the 

 bovine race. This consists of a bony 

 horizontal ridge or wither, which ex- 

 tends from the neck half-way along the 

 back, where it ends abruptly; it adds 

 five or six inches at least to the height 

 of the animal's forehand, and gives it 

 immense strength and mass. When 

 the bison crashes through the thickets 



