2o6 THE OX AND ITS KINDRED 
but its precise limits are still undefined. Some at 
least of the old bull tsaine of the forests of Siam 
are marked all over the head and body with minute 
white flecks ; on the assumption that this animal 
represents a distinct race of the species, it has been 
provisionally named B. sondaicus porteri. 
The habits of both the typical bantin and the 
tsaine appear to be generally very similar to those 
of the gaur, although it has been suggested that the 
bantin is even a still better hill-climber than the 
gaur. The presumed relationship of the bantin to 
the domesticated zebu has been sufficiently discussed 
in an earlier chapter. 
As the wild yak {B. grunniejis) differs from the 
pure-bred domesticated black yaks of the Rupsu 
plateau, of which the leading characteristics have 
been mentioned in the preceding characters, mainly 
by its superior stature and bigger horns, nothing in 
the way of description is required in this place. It 
may be mentioned, however, that fine specimens of 
the horns of the bull may attain a length of between 
34 and 38 inches ; and that the shoulder-height in 
the same sex appears to range between 4 feet 10 
inches and 5 feet 6 inches. As mentioned in the 
preceding chapter, wild yak are stated not to utter 
the grunting noise characteristic of the domesticated 
breed. 
Apparently the nearest living relatives of the yak 
are the bisons. The typical home of the species 
is the elevated plateau of Tibet, where these hardy 
cattle are found at elevations of, approximately, from 
14,000 to 20,000 feet. The range of the species ex- 
tends, however, into the northern districts of Ladak, 
and in the other direction into Kansu, in the north- 
