THE HOLLOW-HORNED RUMINANTS 189 
from the nose to the tail. The colour of 
the full-grown gaur is dark brown, turning 
to black; the legs from above the knees 
and hocks to the hoofs are white, the 
hair being short and fine. Its horns are 
upturned, and tipped with black, with white 
hair covering the junction on the top of 
the skull. The cows are much smaller than 
the bulls, standing about 5 feet high at the 
shoulder. This species feeds both on grass. 
and on the young shoots of trees and of 
bamboos. The calves are dropped in August 
and September. The pure-bred animal does 
not appear capable of domestication. 
Hunting gaur by tracking in the jungle 
has long been a favourite sport of Anglo- 
Indians. General Douglas Hamilton says: j 
“J have killed bulls measuring 6 feet at Photo by Lard & Sep 
the shoulder, and the average height of the 
male is from § feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 
inches. An old bull gaur is a magnificent 
animal. The normal colour is a brownish black, sometimes in very old specimens almost 
quite black. The white stockings reach from the hoof to above the knee, and are very 
‘conspicuous. When on the Anamalies, I had a grand fight with a big bull. I was out early, 
and came on the spoor of bison, and soon saw two, one a very large bull. To my disgust he 
lay down, and was completely covered by creepers and bushes. After a bit I attempted to 
move to get a better view; but there to my left was a cow bison staring at me. She at once 
gave the alarm, and I waited for the large bull to rise. This he did so quickly, and disappeared 
so suddenly, that I only got a snapshot. As I stopped to load, I saw a young calf squatting 
at the foot of a tree like a hare, intently watching me. I put the rifle down, crept up 
behind the tree, and suddenly threw myself on the little calf, and managed to get hold of its 
hind legs, but it got from under me. I managed, however, to tie its fore legs securely by 
means of some slender stems from the creepers. All this time it continued to bellow and to 
make a great row, and I fully expected to see the mother come charging down. I went back 
to the bungalow, and got some men to bring my little captive home. After breakfast I started 
again, and got on the track of the bison. ... JI saw some branches move, and on looking 
carefully perceived a large bull bison; but he was among the thick bushes, and I could not 
see his outline. I guessed as nearly as possible the position of the shoulder, and fired the 
big rifle at him. He gave a bound forward, and then stopped long enough for me to give him 
a shot with the other barrel. ... The next moment I saw the bull standing on the high 
ground above us. I fired again, and hit him well behind the shoulder. He dashed off, but 
only went fifty yards, and then stopped. I walked up, thinking to finish him, when he made 
a fearful rush at me. My man put the double rifle into my hands and then bolted, and I 
thought it prudent to retire and await my opportunity. But he only moved a few paces 
forward, and then stopped. Then began a regular siege of his position.” The result of the 
siege was that the bison received four more bullets, charged and routed the hunter twice, 
and then walked off. It was shot twice more, charged again, and was finally killed by 
General Hamilton with his hunting-knife tied to a bamboo spear-pole. 
Considering the size and tenacity of life of the gaur, it is rather wonderful that more 
accidents do not occur in the pursuit of this animal; but as it lives mainly in thick jungle, 
where large trees grow, the sportsman has more chance of getting out of sight of a wounded 
animal than when attacked by the Indian buffalo, which generally haunts jungles of high grass. 
33 
Cow GAYAL 
This animal is not at all dissimilar to the gaur. Its chief points of differ- 
ence are in the horns and in the colour of its skin 
