264 THE OX AND ITS KINDRED 
/ 
indicus in 1859, appears racially inseparable from the 
great straight-horned buffalo of Assam {B. buhalis 
macroceros). If, however, it really represents an 
extinct race, it should be known as B, b. palcE- 
indicus. 
Fossil remains of a buffalo were described in 
1823 from the superficial deposits of Dantzic under 
the name of Bos pallasi^ while remains from the 
corresponding formations of Italy were subsequently 
regarded as belonging to the same type. These 
remains appear distinguishable from the Narbada 
buffalo merely by their somewhat inferior dimensions ; 
and I have accordingly suggested that they represent 
an extinct race of the Indian species.^ The occur- 
rence of such a buffalo in Germany and Italy during 
the Pleistocene period casts some suspicion on the 
belief that the Indian buffalo was introduced into 
Europe during the Middle Ages. 
A huge buffalo, with horn-cores measuring 1 1 feet 
or more along the curve, was described in 1851 from 
the superficial deposits of Algeria under the name 
of Bubalus antiquus — a name antedating the American 
Bos {Bison) antiquus by one year. 
The horn-cores, which appear to be distinctly 
triangular only in their basal portion, are widely 
separated on the forehead, are directed at first 
outwards, backwards, and downwards, and then 
sweep upwards and finally a little inwards; while 
the skull is moderately long, with slightly prominent 
eye-sockets, and relatively short nasals. In 1878 
Professor L. Rutimeyer ^ wrote that in all essential 
Wild Oxen, Sheep, and Goats, p. 127. 
2 "Die Kinder der Tertiar-Epoche," Abh. schweiz. pal. Ges., vol. v. 
p. 146, 1878. 
