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unmistakable character. It may be a part of the economy of nature 
that plants and animals should possess certain inherent conditions, or 
periodic tendencies to disease, as a check upon excessive propagation. 
It is but a few years ago that thousands of sycamore trees, in almost 
every part of the United States, were suddenly stricken with disease and 
perished within a very few days from the time they were first attacked- 
The wearing-out theorists were eagerly anticipating the entire extinction 
of this noble forest tree in confirmation of their hypothesis of disease, 
and were certain that it could ‘only eke out a little longer the remnants 
of a woeful life.’ But unfortunately for them, or rather for their hypo¬ 
thesis, the tree has entirely recovered from its withered aud blasted 
condition, and is now making as vigorous and successful a struggle for 
life as ever. And we may confidently anticipate the same result in the 
case of the potato. The disease will ultimately pass away, relinquishing' 
its hold upon the plant, and yielding up the ‘sustenance of millions’ to 
the domain of life. 
REMARKS ON VARIETIES OF THE DOMESTIC OX, 
AND THE PRINCIPLES RELATING TO THEIR BREEDING, PREPARED WITH 
A BRIEF NOTICE OF SOME OF TIIE SPECIES COMPRISING THIS OX TRIBE. 
BY SANFORD HOWARD, BOSTON, MASS. 
The genus of animals known scientifically under the name of Bos , com¬ 
prises several species, the most prominent of which are the the Aiirocks, 
or European bison ; the American bison ; the common buffalo of Europe 
and Asia ; the African Cape buffalo ; the arnee ; the gour ; the gayal; 
the yak ; the Musk ox; the zebu ; and the domestic ox. All of these, 
with the exception of the American bison and the Musk ox, are natives 
of the Eastern Continent. 
Some of the ox tribe have inhabited the earth from a remote period. 
Besides the species just mentioned, others which once existed have passed 
away—their bones being found in various localities. One of these extinct 
