. L 
886 :  Hornless Ruminants. 
cifically distinct type. Vasey, on comparing the skeleton 
the zebu and common ox in the museum of the Royal 
of Surgeons, London, found there was a “ material” anatomical 
difference; the former had four sacral and eighteen caudal, th 
latter five sacral and twenty-one caudal, vertebra. 
“The question of polled cattle is an exceedingly difficult om 
truly writes Professor Boyd-Dawkins.? Professor Dawkins 
the first—indeed, only—distinguished scientist who has seenit 
this question one of scientific importance. Others "have re 
it in the most casual manner. 
This “ difficult question” is a new one, and, however tres 
the style of that treatment must be somewhat original. I 
therefore, aimed simply to deal with the copious testimony in t 
Most systematic manner, and with such sufficiency of comp 
ness as will properly exhibit its scientific interest, importi 
and value, 
_ Zebus.—In its native habitat the zebu occurs in many differ 
_ Varieties and conditions. Variations principally relate to 
_ Rumber of humps, color of hair, and length or absence of he 
fo? The horns are, as a rule, particularly small (“ short, ap 
~ and very often wanting. A peculiar tame or domesticated 
~ Occurs in Thibet. The color varies from red to black. } 
> of these are without horns, the opinion of them held by 
_ Ratives being that they are “ degenerated,”—strangely, the $ 
A mew which some old French writers took of the Scottish 
Sete: To recompense the want of horns they have a aha 
frontal protuberance, “so that it is with great difficulty they 
be knocked down and killed.” In the foreheads of our ™ 
Polled cattle a distinct indication of a similar growth ¢ pe 
: The large zebus are red and brown in color; the midd! 
eee bis white, blue-gray, brown, and even black. The small fae 
a Ie aay gray in the main; they are paler on inferior portions © 
= a they have the usual lop-ear character, with f 
Siya The lop-ear is a decidedly “ hummel” charact 
¥ 
p 
F 
pisi 
ie 
j% 
4 
Soy E “drooping ear” among our polls, too, is sometimes + 
a: Suishable, as is also the occurrence of the loose, ages 
OPERE to the skin, and pendulous. Such horns are o 
_—  , Delineations of the Ox Tribe 
San . s » 
ce — ter dated “ Woodhurst, Fallowfield, Manchester, May 1% E 
