The Hollow'horned Ruminants 



219 



centage of butter than ordinary cow's milk. So useful is this mud- and water-loving animal 

 in all swampy district^, that wherever rice is cultivated it is almost indispensable. The 

 result is that the Indian buffalo has been transported, probably in comjiaratively modem 

 times, to many distant (jnarters of the glolie. When this was done is not known ; but it is 

 probable, for instance, that it was not known in Egypt in the days of the Pharaohs, for its 

 form never appears in the paintings and sculptures. Now it is seen very far up the Nile, and 

 plays an important part in Egyptian agriculture ; it is also the general beast of burden and 

 for the dairy in the Pontine Marshes of Italy. In Siiain it was probably introduced by the 

 Arabs, and is used to cultivate the marshy plains near the mouths of the rivers of Andalusia ; 

 it is also in use in the nsarshes of Hungary, in the Crimea, and across Western Asia to 

 Afghanistan. We have thus the curious fact that a wild animal once confined to the jungles 

 of the Indian Peninsula is now domesticated on two other continents. It has not been 





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[if obi' I /I Abboj 

 A PAIK or A1.0AS 

 The anoa is the smallest and most antelope-like member of tho Ox Tribe. 



introduced into America yet, though it would be useful in the .Mississippi swamps ; but the 

 Chinese have taken it to the Ya\- East, and established it as their favourite bea^t of burden. 



The Tamarau and Aixoa. 



In the island of IMindoro, in the Pliilippines, a small black buffalo, with upright, slightly 

 incurved horns, is found in the dense forests. The height at the shoulder is about 3 feet 

 e inches ; a few irregular marks of white are found on the fore legs, face, and occasionally 

 the throat. It is caUed the Tamakau by the natives, most of whom fear to attack it. Its 

 habits are said to be much the same as those of the other buffaloes ; but it is reputed to fight 

 with the Indian buffaloes which liave escaped and become semi-wild in the forests. 



In Celebes a still smaller wild forest-buffalo is found, called the AxoA. It is only 3 feet 

 3 inches high at the shoulder, and has upright, almust straight horns. The general colour 

 is brownish, tinged with yellow, that of the adults being \ery dark brown or black. Scarcely 

 anything is known of its habits. 



