1841.] Illustrations of the Genera of the Bovince. 457 



orbits and the straightness, longitudinally viewed, of the nasals, have 

 been already noticed. In these respects, as in the lesser compression of 

 the lachrymal and malar bones, the present scull agrees with that of the 

 common Ox ; but the intermaxillaries are narrower at their extremity, and 

 the nasal bones are shorter in proportion to them, and to all the other 

 dimensions indeed, than in the common Ox. In the narrowness of the 

 muzzle (intermax:) there is a point of affinity with Bibos : and with regard 

 to the bend of the rami of the lower jaws and to the position (high or low) 

 of their condyles, as well as those of the foramen magnum, the scull ex- 

 hibits a mixed character composed half of Bibos and of Bos. Duvancel 

 erroneously I think stated to Cuvier that the Gayal species in the wild state 

 have no proper dorsal ridge. Dr. Buchanon, however, asserted, of the 

 reclaimed race, that the true ridge is present but short in extent, not ex- 

 tending over more than a third of the back. I cannot decide that essential 

 point : but I know that the Cayal has only 13 pairs of ribs ; and from the 

 characters of the scull, I deduce a confirmation of H. Smith's opinion that 

 the animal is an osculent species, as I should say of Bos or of Bibos ac- 

 cording as it has, or has not the true dorsal ridge. The horns are placed 

 at the ends of the highest part of the frontals, a large portion of which on 

 both surfaces of the scull they cover or flank rather with their thick bases. 

 Towards the bases they exhibit several wrinkles, but are smooth upwards 

 and rapidly attenuated to the blunt points ; as in Bibos the horns are 

 subtrigonal and depressed the broadest faces (in the horizontal position of 

 the head) being the superior and inferior, the next so, the posteal, and 

 least broad, the anteal. The depression is even more distinct than in 

 Bibos, but still the section is, upon the whole, ovoid. The horns are 

 directed outwards with a slight inclination backward and upward, and 

 hardly any curvature so that their divergency is exteme. The colour is 

 wholly black, and this as well as the very moderate curve of the horns, 

 and their position upon the summit of the perfectly flat frontals, may be 

 used as decisive criterea to distinguish the spoils from those of Bibos or 

 No. 1. In the females of Bibos the frontal crest, though less conspicuous 

 than in the males, is ever present, and may be marked at once by the arched 

 line passing between the highest bases of the horns, which it transcends in 

 the middle — and by the depression of the frontals between their lowest 

 bases. The sculls too of Govoeus are from a half to a third smaller, taking 

 weight and dimensions together. In the females of Bibos the horns are so 

 much bent that the tips are as near as the bases, and pointed directly at 

 each other just behind be nape. I proceed now to No. 3 or the Chowry 

 Bull of Tibet which has 14 pairs of ribs and a strong dorsal ridge, though 



