EXISTING KINDS OF WILD CATTLE 229 
a distinct local race of the arna, under the name of 
B. bubalis Jwsei. These buffaloes are smaller than the 
typical arna, and show a narrow white gorget on the 
throat, their legs, as seems to be generally the case 
in the latter, being white from the knees and hocks 
downwards, with the exception of a small triangular 
dark patch on the fetlocks. 
Although dwelling in the aforesaid tall grass- 
jungles in herds, wild Indian buffaloes frequently 
leave the protection of this covert in the early morn- 
ings to appear on the broad stretches of sand in the 
wide river-beds in order to drink and wallow in 
the water. When the grass-jungles are in their full 
luxuriance of growth, buffaloes can only be hunted 
with any approach to safety from the backs of 
elephants ; but in the Central Provinces the grass 
dries up and becomes less impenetrable during the 
hot season, or is burnt by the natives ; and under 
such conditions buffalo-stalking on foot, although 
by no means free from danger, is practicable. 
The following excellent summary of the habits of 
the Indian buffalo is given by Dr. VV. T. Blanford ^ : — 
" The wild buffalo keeps chiefly to level ground 
and is generally found about swamps. It haunts the 
densest and highest grass-jungle or reeds, but is also 
found at times in open plains of short grass, or 
amongst low bushes, but very rarely in tree-forest. 
Buffaloes associate in herds, often of large size. I 
have seen fifty together, and have heard of much 
larger assemblages. They feed chiefly on grass, in 
the evening, at night, and in the morning (probably 
morning and evening as a rule), and lie down, 
generally in high grass, not unfrequently in a marsh, 
^ Fauna of British India — Manwialia^ London, 1888-91, p. 493. 
