470 Illustrations of the Genera of the Bovince, [No. 114. 



Cuvier first divided the Bovinse into subordinate groups, as usual with 

 him employing only craniological characters. H. Smith has since added to 

 Cuvier's the osteological characters of the carcase — the number of ribs and 

 the all important dorsal ridge. I have only more consistently and thoroughly 

 applied these principles at the same time rejecting several palpably false 

 or trivial diagnostics ; and having said thus much for my suggested defi- 

 nitions I now leave them to the discretion of the expert. Though I have 

 thought it expedieut for the present to consider the Bos Gavaeus vel Syl- 

 hetanus (Gayal) as an aberrant speries rather than as the type of a new 

 form, I have not failed to remark how singularly, were it regarded in the 

 former light, the entire series might be made to exemplify the quinary 

 and circular system. If we dispose the five supposed types thus. Bibos, 

 Bison, Bubalus, Bos, Gavceus, we shall find the circularity of the series 

 in many respects very curious and complete. Thus, looking to the cranea 

 alone, Bibos is connected with Bison by broad frontals, salient orbits, and 

 other quasi cervine attributes. Bison, with Bubalus by the prolongation 

 of the facial part of the scull, and the easy rotund transition from the 

 frontal to the occipital plane. Bubalus with Bos by comparatively nar- 

 row frontals and broad square muzzle. Bos with Gavoeus by flatness of 

 frontals and the acute angle they form with the occipital plane. Gavseus 

 with Bibos by great width of frontals and increased extent, and peculiar 

 characters of the occipital plane as well as by contraction of the muzzle ; 

 the acute angle of the two planes of the scull being still maintained. 



If again we pass from a consideration of the cranea to that of that osteo- 

 logical carcases, in regard to that most important feature the osseous dorsal 

 ridge, we shall find this ridge at its maximum of development in height 

 and extent in Bibos ; next diminished in extent in Bison, but not in 

 height ; lost in Bubalus ; tending to reappear inBos ; and clearly resumed 

 (as is alleged) in Gaveeus, and in that peculiar shape too which is so 

 highly develoded in Bibos. 



The above indications of circularity in a complete series of five forms 

 are at all events curious and calculated to stimulate further observation. 

 They have therefore been thus mentioned and should future inquiry tend 

 to confirm the conjectured importance of Gaveeus, it will be but the work 

 of a few minutes to characterise this species as a distinct type. 



B. H. Hodgson. 

 Valley of Nepal, April, 1841. 



