Bovine. -ilAMMALIA. Bovid/E. 1 61 
but with no better result. Six several times at the 
least, did I repeat the dose ; and though on each occa- 
sion the ball told loudly on the animal’s body, neither 
it nor any one of the herd, strange as it may appear, 
budged an inch ! They seemed to be chained to the 
spot by some invisible power, eying me all the while 
with an ominous and sinister look. Their strange and 
unaccountable bearing, puzzled me beyond measure. I 
expected evefy instant to see them charge down upon 
me. But even had this happened — though I am free 
to confess I felt anything but comfortable — my personal 
safety would not, perhaps, have been much endangered, 
as by ascending the tree against which I was leaning, 
I should have been out of harm’s way. However, I 
was not driven to this extremity ; for, whilst about 
t.o ram down another ball, the whole herd suddenly 
wheeled about, and with a peculiar shrieking noise, 
tails switching to and fro over their backs, and heads 
lowered almost to the ground, they made oft at a furi- 
ous pace.” From an examination of the gTOund where 
they stood, and by information received from the bush- 
men, Mr. Andersson subsequently ascertained that two 
of the animals had been mortally wounded. 
THE INDIAN BUFFALO {Bubalus arna) is another 
huge species, the body measuring ten and a half feet 
from the extremity of the muzzle to the root of the 
tail. In the wild state it is called the Arna ; but the 
tame variety, so common throughout India, is termed 
the Bhainsa. The wild buffalo lives in large herds, 
and inhabits the marshy swamps and low grounds in 
the immediate neighbomhood of large forests. It is 
readily recognized by the uniform shortness of the tail ; 
by the tufts of hair which protect the forehead and 
knees ; and chiefly by the enormously developed horns, 
Avhich are particularly long and directed backwards in 
one variety, and much curved and spread out laterally 
in another. Like its congeners, the Arna is celebrated 
for its ferocit3^ “ He seems to look with disdain on 
every living object, and to rely on the great strength 
he possesses to overthrow whatever may be opposed 
to his rage. The smallest provocation irritates him 
incredibly ! And such is his courage that he will 
sometimes even attack a gi’oup of elephants going 
for fodder. I do not think,” says Captain Thomas 
Williamson, “there can be a more menacing object 
than a single wild buffalo disturbed from wallowing in 
the mud.” This is a propensity to which they are 
very much given ; and it is one which, associated with 
certain external characters— such as the thickness of 
the skin, its scanty covering of hair, &c. — serves to 
demonstrate a partial alliance of the buffaloes to the 
true pachydermatous mammalia. We cannot here, 
however, enlarge upon this topic. In the wild state 
the Indian buffalo proves a most terrible opponent, 
not only to the elephant, but to the tiger also. One of 
the principal sources of entertainment given — on anni- 
versary celebrations and such like occasions — by the 
Indian families of distinction, has ever consisted in 
affording a display of the cruel ferocity of the tiger and 
buffalo. We have neither space nor inclination to 
describe these desperate encounters at any length ; but 
we quote a few observations in order more particularly 
to show the behaviour of the animal under considera- 
Vol,. I. 21 
tion. “ The buffalo, on entering the area, smells the 
tiger, and becomes instantly agitated with eagerness. 
His eyes sparkle with furjq as they quest around for 
the skulking enemy, which is generally attacked the 
instant it is distinguished. The buffalo, shaking his 
head and raking the ground for a few seconds with his 
foot, places himself in the posture of attack ; and with 
his face brought parallel to the surface, his horns 
pointing forward, and his tail indicating both his deter- 
mination and his vigour, rushes forward at his full 
speed.” Such is the attitude this beast usually assumes 
when charging an enemy ; and we can readily under- 
stand the amount of presence of mind necessary for 
any human being who may chance to become an object 
of resentment. A remarkable display of this mental 
discipline is recorded by Captain Williamson, in the 
case of a Dr. Knight, when out shooting in the neigh- 
bourhood of Daudpore. “ A buffalo bull, which was 
at a considerable distance, after shaking his head and 
stamping witli his fore-foot, at length fairly made at the 
doctor, who was fortimately provided with an excellent 
rifle, of a large bore. The doctor, knowing what sort 
of a business it was likely to prove if he awaited the 
buffalo’s arrival, mounted a smart tanian or hill ponjq 
which was led by his syce or groom, and made off 
towards a very heavy cover, and had time to conceal 
himself. The buffalo passed on after the doctor, who 
did not fail to give Punch (which was the horse’s 
name) every provocation to exertion. His speed did 
not, however, equal that of his pursuer, which, though 
appearing to labour much, took immense strides, and 
was first coming up. The doctor, finding it impossibl ; 
to escape in this way, reined up suddenly, and dis^ 
mounted. He had scarcely time to turn his horse’s 
flank, and to level his rifle over the back of the saddle, 
before the buffalo, being within the usual distance, 
lowered his head and commenced the charge. The 
doctor, who was a remarkably good shot, fired, and 
happily lodged the ball between the horns of the ani- 
mal ; which, though killed outright, did not drop until 
within three or four yards ot Punch’s side.” In con- 
clusion, we may remark that the temale Arna, after a 
gestation of ten months, produces one or two calves in 
the middle of summer. The tame buffalo, introduced 
into Italy so early as the seventh century, is a true 
variety of this species. As a beast of burden it pos- 
sesses numerous advantages over the solidungulate 
horses, being able to traverse muddy swamps two or 
three feet in depth with comparative facility. This 
animal is also much valued for its strong leathery hide ; 
but as a source of food it is much inferior to that of 
ordinary cattle. 
THE ZEBU {Bos Indicus) is one of those animals 
with whose existence every reader of oriental history 
is familiar. Eegarded with veneration, and even wor- 
shipped, the Zebu, or Brahmin bull, sGems to lead a 
happy life ; wandering to and fro from village to plain, 
grazing where it will, or receiving the votive offerings 
of the devout. Even its excrement is esteemed sacred ; 
the dried dung being used for fuel in cooking food — 
upon which it is supposed by the natives to exert some 
beneficial influence — and also employed in deciphering 
objects on their filthy walls. The Zebu is easily recog- 
