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: ■ THE GAYAL OR MITHUN. 
Bos frontalis or Gaveus frontalis. Native names : Gayal , Hind.; Mithun , 
Bunerea-Goru, Assam and Chittagong ; tSandung , Manipur; Buisang , Naga ; 
Nanouk , Burma. 
Habitat. —Assam and Caohar, Manipur, Tipperah, Chittagong, the Lushai 
Hills and Burma. 
Period of gestation. —Probably ten months. 
Description. —Very similar to the Gaur, but smaller, with shorter limbs, less 
developed dorsal ridge, a well-marked dewlap, forehead quite flat, horns almost >• 
straight, spreading outwards. The colouration is similar to that of the Gaur. 
Dark brown head and body, legs white or yellowish, horns blackish throughout. 
It is domesticated in Assam and elsewhere, and in the wild state breeds freely 
with tame cattle. The tame herds are never employed in agricultural labour or 
as beasts of burden ; they seem to be reared more as signs of their owner’s 
wealth than anything else. Their milk is drunk by a few, but by most, of the 
natives it is regarded as excreta; they are not much used for food, though they 
are sacrificed on ceremonial occasions. 
Measurements.- —In height much less than the Gaur, but it is a heavy and 
clumsy looking animal compared with B. Gaurus, and its horns average 11 ins. 
