1860.] On the Mat-horned Taurine Cattle of S. JE. Asia. 291 



From accounts of the savage nature of the wilcl Yak, the saine might 

 have been inferred of that species, which we know to be extensively 

 domesticated ; or, if we were only acquainted with the wild Rein Deer 

 as it exists in arctic America, the varied applicabilitj of the domestic 

 herds of the corresponding regions of the major continent would 

 scarcely have been predicated. So with the African Elephant in 

 modern times, as compared with the Asiatic Elephant ! # Civilized 

 man, as a rule, exterminates but does not domestícate — has not 

 hitherto done so at least, whatever efforts may of late have been made 

 (with bnt modérate result hitherto) by the Acclimation and diíferent 

 Zoological Societies. A cnltivated country, however, is ill adapted 

 for snch experiments. Wild animáis are rather to be won over, by 

 degrees, in their indigenous haunts, where their habits of life are 

 little changed by domestication, and their food continúes to be 

 that to which the race is accustomed : their subjugation being accord- 

 ingly effected by human tenants of the same haunts, who can hardly 

 have emerged from savagery, but are practically familiar with the 

 habits of the creatures they seek to subdue. It is thus that the 

 three species of known wild Asiatic Taurines with flattened horns 

 have (each of them) been domesticated, to a greater or less extent, 

 in their own wildernesses. A few calves may have originally been 

 caught and tamed, and sorne stock established ; but how entire herds 

 of full-grown wild animáis may be won over and gradually domes- 

 ticated, is thus told by Mr. McRae in Lin. Tr. VII, 303 et seq. 

 The G-ayál or Mitfhun (G-aveus frontalis) being the species 

 referred to. 



" The Kukis have a very simple method of training the wild Gayáis* 



* In a letter just received from Sir J. Emerson Tennent, I learn that the 

 Elephant of Ceylon is considered to be identical with that of Sumatra (!), 

 which is adjudged to be a peculiar species (intermedíate to the existing African 

 and Indian Elephants) by Prof. Schlegel and the late Prof. Temminck, as also 

 by the late Prince of Canino. At all events the Sumatran Elephant is descrioed 

 by three or four authors, to whom I have liad access, to bear generally fine 

 tusks (i. e. the males), whereas a fine tusker is exceptional in the instance'of the 

 Elephant of Ceylon. Sir <J. E. Tennent's elabórate and most interesting serie3 

 of cliapters on the great proboscidian discloses certain facts, on the family 

 re.wmblances of particular herds of Elephants, which will not fail to interest the 

 disciples of Mr. C. Darwin. How about the Elephants of the Malayan penín- 

 sula ; if not also of the Indo-Chinese countries, as far at least as Cocliin-China? 

 I am trying to obtain grinders, i. e. molar teeth, in the hopo of coming soon to 

 Borne understanding in the matter. 



2 q 2 



