16 
THE CULTIVATOR. Jan. 
African Buffalo. 
Mr. Martin, in the work above referred to, gives 
the following account of the African or Cape buffalo*- 
bos coffer, (fig. 4.) “ It is a native of the wilds of 
Southern Africa, where, associated in herds, it frequents 
the borders of woods and thickets, and the watered 
ravines and glens among the hilly grounds. This sav¬ 
age beast is fond of wallowing in pools and swamps, and 
in the muddy ooze, covering its almost naked but dense 
3 —musk ox. 
hide, with defensive clothing against the attacks of in¬ 
sects. The horns of this species form at their base a solid 
rugged mass, covering the forehead, from which they 
bend downwards, and somewhat outwards, gradually di¬ 
minishing to the points, which suddenly curve upward. 
The distance between the points of the horns is fre¬ 
quently five feet, but the rugose massive base of each 
is in contact, forming an impenetrable helmet : their co¬ 
lor is black. With these formidable weapons the Cape 
buffalo has been known to transfix a horse instanta¬ 
neously, lift him up, and hurl him with crushing vio¬ 
lence to the ground. The eye of this animal is savage 
4— AFRICAN BUFFALO 
and lowering, and betokens great ferocity,* the ears are 
large and generally observed to be torn, either from 
combats among the animals themselves, or from the 
laceration of spines and thorns, as they force their way 
through the dense thickets. 
“ The Cape buffalo does not exceed the ordinary ox 
in height, but is much more massively and heavily built, 
and is a far more ponderous animal, with short thick 
limbs, and a dense hide nearly destitute of hair ; on the 
lips and throat, however, the hairs are long, rather 
thickly set, and very coarse. 
u Among the natural enemies of the larger quadru¬ 
peds, the lion is the only adversary which this beast 
has to fear; but even the monarch of the desert does 
not always prove victorious, and instances have occur¬ 
red in which several buffaloes have united in the rescue 
of an attacked companion, and gored the foe to death.” 
In future numbers we shall give further descriptions 
and illustrations of the different species of the ox tribe, 
and shall notice various domestic stocks and breeds, 
Motu‘C0 of 'Ntxo Jpiiblkftticns. 
Transactions, of the American Institute, for 
1847.—We have received the volume above mentioned, 
which numbers over eight hundred pages. The mat¬ 
ter was chiefly prepared under the supervision of the 
late secretary of the Institute, T. B. Wakeman, Esq. 
In addition to the usual doings of the Association, the 
book contains several communications of Value from 
persons in different parts of the country. 
Mr. Colman’s European Agriculture.— Parts 
nine and ten, which bring this work to a close, have 
been received. They comprise views of French, Bel¬ 
gian, Dutch, Flemish, and Swiss agriculture; with 
notices of various agricultural schools, experimental 
farms, and copious remarks on agricultural education. 
Most of the subjects are necessarily treated with brevity, 
owing to the small space in which they are condensed, 
but a great amount of information, of a practical na¬ 
ture, is given, in a style particularly interesting and 
attractive. We shall notice the work more fully next 
month. 
Scientific Agriculture, or the Elements of Chem¬ 
istry, Geology, Botany and Meteorolgy, applied to 
Practical Agiiculture. By M. M. Rodgers, M. D. 
E. Darrow, Rochester, publisher.—This is a book of 
respectable appearance, embracing 275 pages. It is 
evidently designed to furnish the rudiments or first 
principles of the sciences mentioned in the title. It 
embodies a large amount of useful information on the 
various subjects brought under consideration. The ar¬ 
rangement appears simple, and though each subject is, 
necessarily, treated with brevity, the language is gen¬ 
erally plain and within the comprehension of common 
minds. But as the use of technical terms cannot be 
entirely avoided in a treatise of this kind, a glossary is 
appended, which affords a ready explanation of any 
words not likely to be familiar to the general reader. 
We have not examined the work sufficiently to pro¬ 
nounce in regard to all its details, but are favorably 
impressed with its general character. 
Holden’s Dollar Magazine. —See advertisement 
of this magazine, page 39 of this number. We have 
never seen the w r ork, but it is highly commended by 
the press generally. 
British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Re¬ 
view, or Quarterly Journal of Practical Medicine and 
Surgery.—This ably conducted periodical ought to be 
in the hands of every member of the faculty in the 
country. It contains, also, much that is interesting 
and valuable to persons not immediately connected 
with medicine or surgery. With no pretensions to 
knowledge in the healing art, we can say we have de¬ 
rived great benefit from a perusal of this work, and we 
should be very unwilling to be debarred from it. It is 
issued quarterly in London, and re-published in New- 
York by Richard &, George S. Wood, 261 Pearl- 
street. Price, $3 per annum. A quarterly retrospect 
of American practical medicine and surgery, compiled 
from all the American journals, is issued as a supple¬ 
ment to the Preview, and is sent gratuitously to all 
subscribers who pay promptly in advance. 
American Plows. —A writer in the (English) 
Mark Lane Express, who had made a thorough trial, 
side by side, of both English and American, says ; 
“In justice to the American plows, I must say that 
they cut and turned their furrow quite as well as the 
others, at the same time breaking the land to pieces, 
and making a capital preparation for either drilling or 
dibbling; indeed, they are the most simple, light, 
strong, and efficient plows, that it is possible to 
conceive.” 
