OXEN. 



17 



Indo-Malay Wild Oxen. Tlie Gaur, Bos [Bibos] gaurus 1031, the [Lowe* 



Subgenus Bibos. Ga y al ' K W frontalis 1 030, and the Bant- | l X" al 



ing, or Bantin, B. [B.] sondaicus 1027, Case 42.j 

 form a group of Cattle confined to the Indo-Malay countries, 

 showing the following distinctive features. The horns are more or 

 less flattened, especially in the hulls ; the tail is shorter than in 

 the typical Oxen, reaching at most only a little below the hocks ; 

 and there is a distinct ridge running from the shoulders to the 

 middle of the back, where it ends in a sharp drop. In the adult 

 males the colour of the short hair is usually dark brown or blackish ; 

 but in the young of both sexes, as well as in the female Banting at 

 all ages, it is reddish brown ; while in the Burmese race of the 

 Banting, known locally as the Tsaine (1028), the colour of both 

 sexes is pale fawn. From the knees and hocks to the hoofs the 

 legs are white, or whitish. The Gaur is distinguished by the 

 great curved crest between the horns ; the same part in the Gayal 

 being straight. The Banting is the smallest of the three ; and 

 has rounder horns, the ridge on the back less developed than in 

 the other two, and a white patch on the buttocks. 



Gaur, commonly called Indian Bison by sportsmen, are met with [Lower 

 in hill-forest from India and Burma to the Malay Peninsula, Mammal 

 where they are known as Saladang. A male and female are OaseT^l 

 exhibited. The Gayal is probably nothing more than a domesticated to 44, and 

 breed of the Gaur; and is kept for its milk by the natives of jj a ^-j 

 the hill-districts of North-Eastern India and Tenasserim. A 

 bull is exhibited in the Lower Mammal Gallery and the 

 head of a cow in the North Hall. The Banting ranges from 

 Burma and the Malay Peninsula to Java and Borneo. A 

 domesticated breed (of which a steer is exhibited in the North 

 Hall, presented by Mr. C. B. Kloss in 1905) is kept in the small 

 island of Bali, near Java, whence large numbers are exported to 

 Singapore. The head of the black Javan wild Banting, presented 

 by Baron Van Hockeren-tot-Walien in 1904, and one of the 

 tawny Burmese Tsaine, presented by Mr. R. McD. Hawker in 

 1900, are exhibited in the Pavilion at the end of the Lower 

 Mammal Gallery. 



c 



