748 Specific characters of Bibos, [Sept. 



tebrse extremely developed with gradual diminution backwards, causing 

 the entire back to slope greatly from the withers to the croup. Neck 

 sunk between the head and back. Dewlap evanescent. Horns short, 

 very thick and remote, depressed, subtrigonal, presenting the acute 

 angle of the triangle to the front. 



1. Species new and type, Bibos cavifrons, nob. Gauri gau of Hindus. 

 Habitat, Saul forest. 



Specific character. — Large wild Indian Bibcs with fine short limbs ; 

 short tail not reaching to the houghs, broad fan-shaped horizontal ears j 

 smooth glossy hair of a brown red or black color, paled upon the 

 forehead and limbs ; tufted knees and brows, and spreading green horn s 

 with round incurved black tips, and with soft rugous bases, furnished 

 posteally with a fragrant secretion. 



10 feet long from snout to rump, and 5-§ feet high at the shoulder j 

 head (to the crown of forehead) 23 inches, and tail 33 inches. 

 Female rather smaller, but preserving all the characters of the male. 



N. B. To all appearance two other species of Bibos may be found 

 in the fossil Urus of Europe, and in Aristotle's wild bull of Persia 

 with depressed horns. These I would call, respectively. 



2. Bibos Classicus. 



3. Bibos Aristotelis. 



Nor are these animals thus mentioned idly : for the suggested nevr 

 allocation of them may stimulate curiosity : travellers in Persia may 

 possibly yet discover the living species alluded to by Aristotle ; whilst 

 if further research into the fossil remains of the ancient Urus of Europe 

 should bring to light the trunk as well as skull of that species, it 

 would be a most interesting circumstance to find that our Indian 

 forests yet shelter a type of form long since swept from the surface of 

 the globe in the Western world : and the proximity of the Himalaya 

 renders such a contingency at least probable. 



The Gauri Gau never quits the deepest recesses of the Sdl forest, 

 avoiding wholly the proximate Tardi on one side, and the hills on 

 the other. It is gregarious in herds of from 10 to 30, the females 

 much preponderating over the males in the herds, though even in a 

 small herd, there are usually two or three grown males whose conjoint 

 office it is to guide and guard the party. This office is discharged 

 with uncommon alertness, proving the animal to possess great per- 

 fection in all the senses, and with indomitable courage too, if need 

 be ; so that neither tiger, nor rhinoceros, nor elephant dare molest the 

 herd. During the heat of the day the herd reposes in the d( ep< -st 

 cover, coming forth at morn and eventides to feed on the small and 

 open pastures interspersed throughout the forest. Here the animals 



