126 



THE TWO-TOED ARTIODACTYLA. 



The Zebu or Humped Ox [Bos indicus), 

 fig. 198, is still found in a wild state in several 

 parts of India, but it is a question whether 

 these are not domesticated animals run wild. 

 The wild specimens are in no respect different 

 from the tame, numerous breeds of which 



are distributed over India and Africa. It 

 is remarkable on account of a cushion of fat 

 forming a hump on the shoulders, as well as 

 for its rather large dewlap, and is also char- 

 acterized by its pendent ears, the straight 

 line of its back, its pretty long slim legs, and 



Fig. 197. — The Burmese Wild Ox {Bos sondaicus). page 125. 



its usually bright -coloured or spotted skin. 

 The size varies. The South African breeds 

 are commonly large and brown, and often 

 have horns of considerable size; but in all 

 countries where they are found there are 

 also moderate-sized and small breeds, even 

 genuine dwarfs of about the size of a large 

 pig. Then there are also breeds with moder- 

 ate-sized or small horns, or even without 

 horns at all. The zebus run, trot, and gallop 

 like horses; they are highly esteemed as 

 steeds and as beasts of draught and burden, 

 and among some tribes, especially in South 

 and Central Africa, they form, so to speak, 

 the sole wealth. 



The zebus furnish a contribution to the 

 solution of the question of the origin of the 

 domesticated breeds of cattle. According 

 to the results of the investigations of Riiti- 

 meyer, which have indeed been confirmed by 

 other inquirers, but are nevertheless far from 

 having exhausted the question, the European 

 breeds are derived from three races or species, 

 the remains of which are found in a fossil 

 condition in the Quaternary strata. Some 

 of these species have lived along with man, 

 but have afterwards become extinct or have 

 been modified through the influence of man. 



The first place among these primitive 

 species belongs to the Urus, Ur, or Auerochs 



