244 THE OX AND ITS KINDRED 
presents a nearly flat front surface, and ascends up- 
wards and outwards at an angle of almost exactly 45° 
with the middle line of the skull ; beyond this there 
is a regular but sharp curve inwards, so that when 
unworn the tips, as in the type specimen, incline 
towards the middle line in a horizontal direction. It 
is possible that certain greyish buffaloes from western 
Africa may be referable to this race. 
As to the precise locality where this so-called Lake 
Chad buffalo was obtained, there is no definite in- 
formation, the original description merely mentioning 
" central Africa " : accordingly, the spot may well 
have been scores of miles distant from the lake. 
Comparisons might be carried still further ; but the 
foregoing instances are sufficient to indicate how 
close is the connection and complete the gradation 
between the great black buffalo of South Africa 
and small dun-red one of Ashanti and other parts of 
the west coast. The following notes on the habits of 
the large black buffaloes of South Africa are con- 
densed from an account written by Mr. F. C. Selous. 
In South Africa buffaloes calve from January to 
March. The calves are reddish brown when newly 
born, but, as they grow, the red tinge gradually dis- 
appears, when they become dun-brown, not turning 
black till they are nearly three years old. When in 
their prime, buffaloes are covered with a fairly abund- 
ant coat of coarse black hair, while the large droop- 
ing ears are edged with long fringes of softer hair. 
The tuft at the tip of the tail, though well developed, 
is not so thick or so wavy as in domesticated cattle. 
With age bulls and cows gradually lose their coats, 
at first along the back behind the shoulders, after 
which the baldness spreads till very old animals 
