Species of Bovine Animals. 



6481 



assist Europeans in the slaughter of these animals, will not themselves 

 destroy them (the inviolability of the cow extending to the gaour) ; 

 and so bold does this free-booting animal become in consequence, 

 that he has been known to drive the ryots from the fields, and deli- 

 berately devour the produce. But in general it is a timid animal, and 

 it is often difficult to get within gun-shot of them. 



" The breeding season is said to be early in the year, and the 

 calves are born after the rains. The bulls are often found separate from 

 the herd, which consists generally of from ten to fifteen cows and a 

 bull. They generally feed during the night, browsing on the 

 young grass and the tender shoots of the bamboos, of which they are 

 very fond. In the morning they retire to some thicket of long grass, 

 or young bamboos, where they lie down to ruminate. When disturbed, 

 the first that perceives the intruder stamps loudly with its foot to alarm 

 the rest, and the whole rush through the forest breaking down every 

 obstacle and forcing their way with a terrific crash. 



Dat euntibus ingens 



Silva locum, et magno cedunt virgulta fragore. 



• JEneid, vii. 076. 



" When suddenly approached in the night they start off with a loud 

 hissing snort. 



* The GowaMahs say that they see great numbers of gaour when pas- 

 turing their herds in the neighbouring forest. They describe them as 

 very timid and watchful, more so than any other wild animal, always 

 reposing in a circle, with their heads turned outside, ready to take 

 alarm. They add that they see most calves from June to October, 

 but the greatest number about August. They do not know how long 

 the cow goes with calf, but suppose the period of gestation to be the 

 same as that of the buffalo, or ten months and ten days. The old 

 male drives the others from the herd at the breeding season, and the 

 single ones seen in the jungle are young males of this description, and 

 it is probable that the very old bulls are sometimes expelled also by 

 younger and stronger males. 



" For the following particulars derived from the observation of the 

 animal in the Sherwaroya hills, I am indebted," continues Mr. Elliot, 

 " to Mr. Fischer of Salem. c The bison ordinarily frequent the hills, 

 seeking the highest and coolest parts, but during the hottest weather, 

 and when the hills are parched by the heat or the grass consumed by 

 fire, the single families, in which they commonly range the hills, 

 congregate into large herds, and strike deep into the great woods and 

 XVII. z 



